1 Thessalonians 5:21
Test everything that is said.  Hold on to what is good.

I want to start by noting that I’m not picking on this artist.  I know nothing about her except the research I did on this song.  It’s just every time I hear this song something doesn’t sit right for me so I decided to look into it more.  We are called to test everything to make sure it lines up with the Bible and if it doesn’t get rid of it.

This is what I found...you can decide for yourself.

Confusing Message

1) The message is confusing.  Mandisa is a Christian artist but by just listening to the song, I couldn’t figure out “who” the song was directed towards.  Just people in general?  Fellow Christians?  Below is a video I found where she talks about the inspiration behind the song.

In the video, she quotes 2 Chronicles 7:14 and having unity within the Body of Christ. Also, she clearly states that this song is directed towards Christians. Okay, that’s good, I’ve got no problem with that.  The lyrics were still bothering me though so I decided to check out the music video.

2) The music video (link below) totally contradicts her video about what the song is about.  The beginning of the music video is talking about when police or black boys are killed, we need to say something. I agree we should not be silent.  We are called to stand up for the innocent and be a voice for the helpless; however, if this is about unity among Christians shouldn’t it say something about our Sisters and Brothers that are being killed and persecuted?

Second, during the video several times it shows an Indigenous person dancing in full ceremonial gear.  What has that got to do with Christianity?  It’s the total opposite since the Indigenous culture is steeped in occult practices and beliefs.

In the lyrics several times she sings “So tell me why, tell me why we’re divided”.  Coming from a Christian-to-Christian perspective that sounds like a valid statement but again the music video is not portraying a Christian-to-Christian statement but since her video about why she wrote the song is directed at Christians she must mean as a Christian-to-person statement?  In that scenario we’re divided because…

2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.  How can goodness be a partner with wickedness?  How can light live with darkness?  What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil?  How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?  And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.

2 Corinthians 6: 17
Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.  Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

We are to help all people but there is a difference between helping and compromising God’s Word which is what would have to happen for us to “come together”.  We see this clearly with the LGBTQ community and now this gender fluidity agenda.  We can’t come together under those banners.  And communities like the LGBTQ, want total surrender to their ideologies which means to come together you need to reject the authority of the Bible, which is rejecting Jesus Christ and what he did for us.

John 14:15
“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

1 Thessalonians 2:4
Our purpose is to please God, not people.

In the Name of Love

3) The lyrics also talk about love and basically coming together under the banner of love.  Sound familiar?  This is the theme song for many including why people promote that all religions need to come together.  I understand why non-Christians would say this but as a Christian we need to be aware of why that statement is fundamentally flawed when it comes to Christian to non-Christian.

We are to love everyone and showing love is telling them the truth aka the Gospel.  Love is not joining them in their sin or letting them believe that what they are doing is okay. 

Luke 24:47
“With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.”

People instinctively don’t want other people to hate them or think badly about them but Jesus tells us that believing in Him brings division.  Have you ever heard the saying, “I rather someone hate me and go to heaven than love me and go to hell”?  Although anyone who finds Jesus would love the person who told them, I believe the saying gets its point across.

Matthew 10:34-39
Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth!  No, I came to bring a sword.  I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  Your enemies will be right in your own household!  If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling on your life, you will lose it, but if you give it up for me, you will find it.

And let’s be honest God’s definition of love is vastly different than this culture’s definition of love.

Ending Prayer

My last point is at the end of the song. Kirk Franklin says a prayer to God that asks that our families come together and seek God’s face and God will forgive our sins and heal our land.  While this prayer is being said in the music video it shows different families including an Indigenous family in full ceremonial outfits that have symbols and feathers on their clothing.  They are displaying their belief system which is not Jesus Christ.  I don’t have any ill will towards Indigenous people, I just don’t understand how that shows unity within the Body of Christ and how accepting different religions is going to heal our land and God is going to forgive our sins?

Overall, the song definitely has a catchy beat but for me with it’s confusing message and images it’s a hard no.  It seems the artist is trying to make both worlds happy - Christian and secular alike which a Christian shouldn’t be doing.  We’re either on God’s side or Satan’s. 

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
And I don’t want any of you to be partners with demons.  You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too.  You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.

You might say I’m being too critical but I rather play it safe than accidentally promote something that leads another astray.  I know of too many Christians that believe we can show God’s love by never saying at word.  They believe if they just “love” them they’ll eventually see Jesus through that love.  The truth is if you’re not actively trying to disciple them with God’s Word than you’re just coming in agreement with their sin and that’s not God’s love.

Now it’s up to you...what do you think?

Your Sister in Christ,

Angela

Angela Grover
Founder of Sanctification Day By Day