Photo by Jamez Picard
Elevation Worship is a church-led band that was created in 2007. They join Bethel Music and Hillsong as the “big three” that has the biggest reach in modern Christian music. They released many albums and EP’s.
They also won nine awards, including two Billboard for Top Christian Artist (2021) and Top Christian Song (Graves into Gardens, 2021), and two GMA Dove awards for Spanish Language Album of the Year (Aleluya (En La Tierra), 2020) and Worship Recorded Song of the Year (The Blessing (Live), 2020).
Also, check out my other Elevation Worship reviews.
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. I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
Elevation Worship can be honest with “You”, who loves them unconditionally and without failure. Whoever “You” is, Elevation Worship acknowledges their brokenness and unworthiness before “You”, yet, “You” is proud of them.
Who is “You”? Verse 2 says it is a “Father”. Is this an earthly father or the Heavenly Father? In both senses, Elevation Worship, being the son/daughter, fits. However, there are three reasons why it cannot be an earthly father:
- Humans also cannot truthfully say they don’t make mistakes. God doesn’t.
- Humans cannot legitimately claim that our love never fails. It does on occasion. God’s love never does.
- During Bridge (1), Elevation Worship ad-libbed “While I was a sinner, Christ loved me”. In Bridge (2), they ad-libbed “I’ve seen it with my messiest sin”. This makes it explicitly clear who “You” is.
Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge (1) and Bridge (2) repeats “Your love, Your love never fails” and “Your love never fails” more times than I care to count, and a few more times at the song’s end. Also, I know I get some flack about including ad-lib in a review. In this instance, it helps.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
It does.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
I can be real with You
Say anything and not be afraid
If the Psalms have taught us anything, is that we can be brutally honest with God.
You made me and You like what You made
This is true both of man in creation (Genesis 1:26-31) and after we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:15–17).
You made me and You don’t make mistakes
God and His ways are perfect (Leviticus 11:44-45, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 25:8, Psalm 92:15, Isaiah 26:7, Matthew 5:48, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 Peter 1:16).
I can be real with You
Repeats line 1.
[Chorus]
You take me just as I am
You’d choose me all over again
I am the one You love, I am the one You love
I don’t have to prove anything
There’s room at Your table for me
Essentially repeats same concept as Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.
I am the one You love, I am the one You love
Repeats line 3.
[Instrumental (1)]
It’s me, it’s me
The real me, it’s me, it’s me
Essentially repeats same concept as Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.
[Verse 2]
I know You’re proud of me
As stated in Matthew 25:21 and Matthew 25:23.
Even though I don’t deserve it sometimes
That is, undeserved favor (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).
No, I’m not a perfect child
Elevation is imperfect (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Job 15:14, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and 1 John 1:8-10).
But I still make my Father smile
So, I know You’re proud of me
Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.
[Instrumental (2)]
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me
The real me, oh
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me
The one You see, it’s me
Repeats/essentially repeats Instrumental (1) twice. Included is a slight call to Casper the friendly ghost.
[Bridge (1)]
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Though probably borrows from the last part of 1 Corinthians 13:8, the context here is about love itself, not God’s love. Yet, Verse 1, line 4 tells us that God is perfect. Naturally, His love is perfect also.
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails (No, no)
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I know and I’ve seen that
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails (No, no)
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
You keep loving me, “Your love”
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Me without performance
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Me without the talents, “Your love”
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
It’s the real me, it’s the real me, Your love”
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
While I was a sinner, Christ loved me
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails (Your love)
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1 and 2 with a few ad-libs intermixed:
- Elevation Worship has personally experienced God’s love.
- Elevation Worship does not need to measure up to receive it.
- While Elevation Worship was a sinner, Christ showed His love (Romans 5:6-8).
[Tag]
I am the one You love
Self-explanatory.
I am the one You love
I am the one You love
I am the one You love
Repeats line 1.
[Bridge (2)]
C’mon, let’s sing, “Your love, Your…”
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails (No, no)
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I’ve seen it at my lowest valley
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I’ve seen it with my messiest sin
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Oh, Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I’m a testimony of Your love
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Basically repeats Bridge (1) with more ad-libs:
- A few calls for the audience to join in song.
- Elevation Worship has experienced God’s love at their lowest point in life.
[Outro]
I’m a testimony
Oh, I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
Essentially repeats Bridge (2), line 18.
I’m a testimony
Repeats line 1.
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
Repeats Bridge (1), lines 1 and 2.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
The clues concerning “You” as someone who is mistake-free and without failure in love point them towards a religious interpretation. The ad-libbed “While I was a sinner, Christ loved me” is hard to miss, lending them towards Christianity. The only thing they might misinterpret is the word “sin”. To them, “sin” is mere mistakes. Christians believe sin is violating God’s laws and commandments.
Score: 9/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as the One who freed sinners from their state of rebellion and error, who experienced His unbending love first-hand. Elevation Worship, as one of His children, testifies to this.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Elevation Worship’s The One You Love is Biblical when properly understood. It tells us that God’s unfailing and unconditional love makes it possible to accept less-than-perfect humans, helping us become more like Him. In turn, we can be open and honest with Him. These glorify God. Unbelievers should be able to piece this together, though perhaps misunderstanding the word “sin” as “error” instead of “lawbreaking”.
This song requires an ad-lib to make it 100% clear that this song is about the Christian God. This makes me wary to consider recommending for corporate worship. Surely there are better songs to choose from?
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: The One You Love (listen to the song)
Artist: Elevation Worship (Feat. Chandler Moore)
Album: LION
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2023
Duration: 7:58
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2022 Phil Wickham Music (BMI) / Simply Global Songs (BMI) / Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) / My Magnolia Music (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Related reviews:
Elevation Worship (Feat. Chandler Moore & Tiffany Hudson) – More Than Able
Elevation Worship (Feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, & Chandler Moore) – Praise
Elevation Worship (Feat. Chris Brown) – Trust in God
Brandon Lake (Feat. Chandler Moore) – Fear Is Not My Future
Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music (Feat. Chris Brown) – Mercy
Elevation Worship – Grace So Glorious
Comments
Tyeisha
Great review. Have found this song concerning for a while. There are indeed better songs that talk about the love of Christ without needing an ad Lib. Thanks for putting words to my concerns Vince. God bless.
Abbie
I don’t understand what the point of the line “You made me and you don’t make mistakes” means. Is this simply a reference to being fearfully and wonderfully made? It sounds more like an implication that we are perfect because God is perfect, like the chorus of “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga.
My biggest problem is the ad lib “It’s me you see,” which is not a part of the lyrics but is horribly unbiblical regardless.
Vince Wright
Abbie,
Great questions!
1. Yes. Although just because God doesn’t make mistakes doesn’t mean we don’t. Case in point: Adam and Eve were both made perfect, but they both fell.
2. I am curious as to why you think this is horribly unbiblical? I was under the impression that this is just an admission that Elevation Worship has left themselves completely bare before Him.
-Vince Wright
Abbie
Thanks for the reply.
It just seems unnecessary to say “You made me and you don’t make mistakes.” What is the implicit conclusion of that line? What point are they trying to make? It seems very easily misinterpreted.
The ad lib is unbiblical because God does not see us, He sees Jesus. Half the things said in this song would not be true if God saw us rather than Jesus. Maybe Chandler was simply humbling himself and putting himself in the light spiritually before God. In context, however, it sounds like he is claiming self-sufficiency. But I don’t know for sure. I could be reading a lot more into it than I should be. I tend to be very critical of songs with ambiguous lyrics, especially in church settings where there may be young believers or non-believers present who would misinterpret the unclear lyrics.
Vince Wright
Abbie,
Thanks for sharing! I tend to lean towards very critical myself. Humility makes the most sense when you consider the following lines:
[Verse 1]
I can be real with You
Say anything and not be afraid
[Chorus]
You take me just as I am
You’d choose me all over again
I am the one You love, I am the one You love
I don’t have to prove anything
There’s room at Your table for me
[Verse 2]
I know You’re proud of me
Even though I don’t deserve it sometimes
Instrumental (2):
It’s me, it’s me, it’s me
The real me, oh
[Bridge (1)]
It’s the real me, it’s the real me, Your love”
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
While I was a sinner, Christ loved me
[Bridge (2)]
I’ve seen it at my lowest valley
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
I’ve seen it with my messiest sin
Your love, Your love never fails
…
I’m a testimony of Your love
Your love, Your love never fails
Your love never fails
He sees “the real me”. What is that? It is someone who wars with sin our entire life. We can be real about our failures, even after we decided to follow Jesus.
Yet, God still loves us though it all. Maybe you’re different, but I personally haven’t “arrived” yet, meaning that I still have sin that I’m working on not committing. Elevation is testifying to that part of themselves.
-Vince Wright
Beverly Peters
I agree, I look at worship as glorifying God. This song seems to encourage ourselves. They are two separate things. When worshipping, the name of who we worship should always be used, leaving nothing to be ambiguous!