We The Kingdom – Child of Love

We the Kingdom began their career in 2018, releasing one album and 5 EP’s.  These include:

• Live at the Wheelhouse (EP, 2019)
• Live Acoustic Sessions (EP, 2020)
• The Awakening (EP, 2020)
• The Battle (EP, 2020)
• The Journey (EP, 2020)
• Holy Water (2020)

We the Kingdom won a GMA Dove award in 2020 for New Artist of the Year.

Also, check out my reviews of God So Loved, Don’t Tread on Me, and Holy Water.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Amid We the Kingdom’s lifestyle of self, they realized their mistake and wept bitterly, feeling the weight of their guilt.  Then, they saw something like lightning from Heaven.  It was Jesus, who rescued them from eternal separation and changed them from the inside out.  We the Kingdom belongs to Christ, never to be removed (see section 2, Bridge, where I address walking away).  In response, We the Kingdom tells others about Jesus.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song is Biblical.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I was walking the wayside, lost on a lonely road
I was chasing the high life, tryna satisfy my soul

We the Kingdom lived a life of self, basking in everything the world had to offer.

[Verse 2]

All the lies I believed in, left me crying like the rain

We the Kingdom realized that the path they chose was a lie, realizing that they are broken and full of sin (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6).

Then I saw lightning from Heaven, and I’ve never been the same

That is, they saw Jesus and were new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This is further explained in Verse 3.

[Chorus]

I’m gonna climb a mountain
I’m gonna shout about it
I am a child of love
I found a world of freedom
I found a friend in Jesus

This message of freedom, formerly spoken in secret to Jesus’ disciples, is proclaimed from the rooftops (Matthew 10:27).  This message includes Jesus’ words, that He demonstrates His love for We the Kingdom by laying His life down for them (Romans 5:6-8), calling them friends (John 15:13).

I am a child of love

Repeats line 3.

[Verse 3]

I’ve felt the sting of the fire, but I saw You in the flames
Just when I thought it was over, You broke me out of the grave

Combines Daniel 3:25, where King Nebuchadnezzar saw something like the Son of Man who rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace they were thrown in, with Christ rescuing We the Kingdom from being cast into the Lake of Fire (Matthew 5:30, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-48, John 3:16-21, Romans 6:23, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:14-15, and Revelation 21:8). They were dead in sin, but are now alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Post-Chorus]

Yeah yeah (Yeah), oh (Oh)

References Casper the friendly ghost.

I am a child of love

Repeats Chorus, line 3.

Yeah (Yeah), oh (Oh)
I am a child of love

Repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Bridge]

Nothing can change the way You love me
Nothing can change the way
I belong to You, yes, I do
Nothing can separate

While Romans 8:38-39 gives us a laundry list of things that cannot separate We the Kingdom from God’s love, their word “nothing” succinctly captures the idea behind these two verses.  While permanently walking away is potentially a condition that will cause them to not belong to Christ, if they truly belong to Him, they will remain (1 John 2:19).  By walking away and never returning, We the Kingdom would show that, from God’s perspective, they never were His.  Without any other conditions, “nothing” is correct.  Also, see John 10:28.

Nothing can change the way You love me
Nothing can change the way
I belong to You, yes, I do
Nothing can separate

Repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely conclude that selfish living is error. Jesus entered the flames We the Kingdom was in to liberate them,  He changed them, cherishes them, and they forever belong to the Son of God.  Terms such as “Heaven” and “Jesus” will help them see its Christian roots.  We the Kingdom wrote this song using everyday language, easing this interpretation.

It would have been helpful for We the Kingdom to call unbelievers to respond to Christ’s love with repentance, sacrifice, and/or surrender to God.  While believers can assume these acts of subservience shown in “forever changed”, those outside Christianity could use a clearer explanation.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus that We the Kingdom recognize their error, trust in Jesus, and proclaim His message of freedom to those who don’t know Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

We The Kingdom’s Child of Love is lovely.  They touch on sin that leads to destruction, Jesus’ loving rescue, and that they belong to Him, glorifying Christ.  In response to His actions, We the Kingdom shouts from the mountaintops, that there is freedom in Jesus’ friendship.  While this song could be clearer to unbelievers, that change requires surrender, they will likely think it presents the Christian message of forgiveness for selfish living.

I recommend it for corporate worship.  Seeker-sensitive churches may want to consider an explanation in a sermon/pre-talk on repentance before worshipping with this one.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Child of Love (listen to the song)

Artist: We The Kingdom

Album: Holy Water

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 4:11

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2020 We The Kingdom Music (BMI) Bay19 (ASCAP) Scott Cash Publishing Designee (BMI) Angie Feel Good Songs (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.