Announcement – Closing The Berean Test & Straggler Guest Reviews

Fellow Bereans,

Thank you all for supporting me over the years with prayers, finances, and comments.  Unfortunately, life continues to throw curveballs my way and I cannot continue operating this website.  After much prayer, counsel, and consideration, I’ve decided to close this website in early January 2026.

In the meantime, I will continue to allow comments and messages in my inbox and will process them as I have time. However, I probably won’t respond.

There are two guest reviews sitting in my inbox that I no longer have time to format. However, I don’t want to waste the effort made by these reviewers. Therefore, I am posting the content in this announcement in its raw, unformatted version for you to see and comment on. I haven’t reviewed them except for naughty words.

Finally, almost all my reviews will be (most likely) forever archived in the Wayback Machine, at https://web.archive.org/web/20250508105805/https://www.thebereantest.com/.

Again, thank you for supporting me throughout the years.  It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the Kingdom of God in this capacity.

Kutless – What Faith Can Do [Assigned to Rebecca Lagowski]

Everybody falls sometimes (Romans 3:23-24)
Gotta find the strength to rise (Loosely relates to 2 Timothy 1:7)
From the ashes and make a new beginning (unbiblical. We don’t make new beginnings, God does).
Anyone can feel the ache (1 Peter 5-10)
You think it’s more than you can take (Scriptural reference?) (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) could be misinterpreted as, God won’t give us anything beyond what we can handle.
But you’re stronger, stronger than you know (1 Peter 5-10, James 1:2-4)
Don’t you give up now (James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
The sun will soon be shining (Questionable. In the new Heaven and earth, we won’t need the sun or the moon, as God will be our light).
You gotta face the clouds (1 Kings 18:45)
To find the silver lining (no reference to this in the Bible)
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains (dreams don’t move mountains…God does. Loosely refers to Matthew 21:18-22, Jesus says we could tell the mountain to move and it will because we believed and didn’t doubt.
Hope that doesn’t ever end (Lamentations 3:21, 1 Peter 1:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Even when the sky is falling (Revelation 6:13)
I’ve seen miracles just happen (Matthew 21:18-22, loosely related)
Silent prayers get answered (Matthew 6:6, Romans 8:26-27, Isaiah 65:24)
Broken hearts become brand new (Psalm 34:18, Revelation 21:4, Psalm 147:3)
That’s what faith can do (faith, yes, but not faith alone, James 2:17)
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard (Loose reference to Deuteronomy 31:6)
Impossible is not a word (Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26, Philipians 4:13)
It’s just a reason for someone not to try (Loosely relates to Mark 10:27)
Everybody’s scared to death (Isaiah 41:10 is in the Bible because everyone feels fear at some point, and so needs this verse. Also John 14:27)
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water (Matthew 14:28-33)
But it’ll be alright (Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 29:11-14, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 34:4, Joshua 1:9. No passage directly says everything will be alright, but the sentiment of this line is Scripturally backed up).
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing (Matthew 6:25-26, and 24:2,, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
You will find your way (Psalm 25:4-5, Psalm 25:8-9, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 3:5-6)
If you keep believing (To believe also means to obey, so we need to bear in mind James 2:17 again.)
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
Overcome the odds (we ourselves don’t overcome, but Jesus does, John 16:33. However, could loosely relate back to Matthew 21:18-22)
When you don’t have a chance (Mark 10:27)
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t (Mark 10:27)
It’ll tell you that you can (unbiblical. It’s God who says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, Philipians 4:13).
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That’s what faith can do
Even if you fall sometimes (not a question of if, but when, Romans 3:23-24)
You will have the strength to rise (Isaiah 40:31).

Elevation Worship (Feat. Tiffany Hudson & Steven Furtick) – New Thing Coming [Assigned to Day Garwood]

1. What message does the song communicate?
   Apart from wanting us to know that there is a new thing coming, the overall message of the song is extremely vague. There is barely any mention of how, when, or where this will happen, if it has already happened, or by what authority.
   To confuse things further, it contains language that is suggestive of testimony, prophecy, and spiritual authority, but never fully committing in any single direction.
   The lyrics suggest a personal experience, with small invitations for the audience to join in by singing and prophesying.
   Score: 3/10.
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
   While the song contains several references to scriptural passages, most have been either misinterpreted or misused. These include the concept of revival (Psalm 85:6), faith moving mountains (Matthew 17:20), an anointing to destroy the yoke (Isaiah 10:27), the sound of rain (1 Kings 18:41), and references to new wine (Matthew 9:17).
   The most confusing line comes at the very end of the song when they say “Jesus is headed our way”. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus is already with his people (Matthew 28:20, John 14:23). The only explanation I can come up with is that line is referring to the second coming, however without any further clarification, this is mere speculation.
   Here is a full breakdown of each unique line and its score. Repetitions with slight variations are put on the same line separated with slashes.

Verse 1

There is revival right here and now: 0.5 (Foundations in Psalm 85:6, but seemingly framed here as a spontaneous, charismatic event, rather than repentance and divine cause).
There is a fresh wind and I can hear the sound: 0.5 (Likely an allusion to Acts 2 (wind of the Spirit), but vague and lacks theological clarity).
Something truly wonderful/really powerful is happening: 0 (No scriptural reference, purely subjective, personal experience). Also repeated in verse 2.
There is a difference inside of me: 0 (self-referential).
More than a feeling, this is a prophecy: 0 (Follows on from previous line, prophecy is God-initiated, not self-asserted).

Chorus: Sang 3 times throughout song.

Darkness bow down to the day: 1 (John 1:5, Romans 13:12).
Mountains get up out my way: 0.5 (Refers to Matthew 17:20, faith moves mountains, but shifts emphasis to self-authority, almost defiant).
Breaking out of yesterday: 0 (Poetic and motivational, but no biblical support.).
I got a new thing coming: 0.5 (Possibly echoes Isaiah 43:19, See, I am doing a new thing, but it’s not God speaking, it’s a personal declaration). Repeated 38 times throughout song.
Tell this giant in my face You’re not greater than my faith: 0.5 (Likely referencing David and Goliath imagery, but flips focus from God’s power to faith as force).
Best believe me when I say: 0 (Self-assured declaration; no biblical basis).

Verse 2

There’s an anointing to destroy the yoke: 0.5 (Isaiah 10:27 KJV uses similar language, but it’s a debated translation. Here, the “anointing” is generalised, and the yoke isn’t defined).
So tell every stronghold you gotta let me go: 0.5 (References 2 Corinthians 10:4, tearing down strongholds, but oversimplifies and personalises it).
There is a freedom that I have never known: 0.5 (Possibly refers to John 8:36, if the Son sets you free, but again, lacks clarity).
Out of the shadows into the overflow: 0 (Vague spiritual language, unclear reference).

Bridge (repeated 11 times throughout song)

I can see a cloud heavy with rain/hear a sound abundance of rain: 0.5 (Likely referencing 1 Kings 18:41-45, but metaphor not developed).
And it looks like revival/salvation/freedom/provision/healing/joy/Jesus, it’s headed our way: 0.5 (Each of these uses biblical words, but presents them as incoming experiences without theological framing. They’re named, but not defined or connected to Scripture’s meaning for each. Their mention of “Jesus” may reference the second coming, but unclear and otherwise implies Christ as being distant, contradicting Matthew 28:20).

Tag 1

It’s headed our way: 0 (not counted in score as it’s a brief repetition of a line in the bridge). Repeated 26 times.

Tag 2 (repeated 3 times)

I got that new mind, new heart, fresh faith: 1 (“fresh faith” is unclear – it could potentially refer to growing faith, as in Luke 17:5, or renewed strength as in Isaiah 4031. Otherwise the line is sound, referring to other ideas found in Romans 12:2 and Ezekiel 36:26).
I got that new wine, now word: 0.5 (New wine and new word are biblical-sounding phrases, Matthew 9:17, Jeremiah 31:31, but not explained – seems to be more catchphrase than doctrine).

Lines: 20
Total score: 7.5/20
Normalised score: 3.75/10 (round to 4).

Score: 4/10.

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
   An outsider with no knowledge of scripture would have difficulty recognising it as a Christian song, unless they happened to stumble on the one line that references Jesus.
   Score: 2/10.
4. What does this song glorify?
   This song appears to glorify faith rather than God.
   Score: 3/10.

Closing Comments
While this song may be very motivational and encouraging for those who thrive on positive messages in the dark, I cannot recommend it in the context of praise or worship, corporate or otherwise.
Total score: 3/10