Photo by Miguel Bruna
Gungor is a duet formed in 2006 from a husband and wife couple named Michael and Lisa Gungor. Their first album and title track Beautiful Things released in 2010, earning a nomination for the Grammy categories Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song in 2011; however, it did not receive any awards.
Since Beautiful Things, Gungors’ personal convictions shifted, changing the landscape and direction of subsequent album releases, exploring other worldviews including panentheism, apophatic theology, and other religions. As of this writing, their current beliefs are to evaluate one’s own beliefs based upon one’s own behavior. In this case, they wish to emulate Jesus’ behavior.
I get where they are coming from: actions speak louder than words. It says nothing about their own personal relationship with Jesus, something of a great concern to me. It says nothing about the Gospel message, about lawbreaking, sin debt, forgiveness, and trusting in Jesus. Still, this review is about lyrics and not Gungor’s unwillingness to articulate basic Christian theology. Let us press on from this digression to review Beautiful Things.
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?
The message is simple without becoming simplistic: “You” turns pain into beauty; lostness into hope. Who does this “You” refer to? Aside from Gungor’s own words, the only hint we receive is within the chorus: only God can make “beautiful things” (e.g.; people) out of dust. I would have liked to see a more explicit reference to God/Jesus. After all, there is power in the name of Jesus.
Score: 8/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
If we can assume that “You” refers to God, it is mostly Biblically solid; However, it has some minor vagueness. Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
This is a cry out in despair, a lie that the Devil (John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:3, and Revelation 12:9) would tell us to make us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. As we will find out, this individual does not believe this lie. What is not immediately clear is the type of pain: is it physical? emotional? guilt due to sin? It is immense regardless of type.
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?
Mixes two separate Biblical metaphors as part of their outcry: the concept of lost and found (Luke 15:1:32) and the condition of their soil (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).
[Chorus]
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
“Dust” is a reference to the creation of Adam from dust in Genesis 2:7 and that we too are dust in Genesis 3:19 and Ecclesiastes 3:20. God is in the business of making people for honorable use from the same lump of clay used for common use (Psalm 103:13-14 and Romans 9:21).
[Verse 2]
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
What is this “hope” that Gungor speaks of? As Christ followers, we know what the answer is: our hope is in God (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6). This could have been expressed more clearly.
[Bridge]
You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
The concept of newness in this sense can be found in Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah 65:17, Ephesians 4:24, and Revelation 21:4-5.
Score: 8/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
I mentioned earlier that there were only two hints that point this song to God: Gungor’s own words and the Chorus. Yet, without any additional research, unbelievers will not likely interpret it this way. Rather, it is a love song to someone special (perhaps a boy/girlfriend) who helped them through their immense suffering, making them new. The “dust” aspect would be difficult to interpret this way and may confuse secular listeners as something disjointed from the verses.
In any case, God will likely be the last thing on their minds when tuning in. Still, with its (mostly) biblical principles, it can become a positive influence to the uninitiated.
Score: 3/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It does glorify God; However, it is so thickly veiled that only believers will be able to see it. At least, those who understand that man was created from dust.
Score: 7/10
Closing Comments
Gungor’s Beautiful Things is an average song. Though the message is simple and straightforward, its true meaning will become obfuscated to the uninitiated. There are a lot of assumptions throughout this song, which gives me the sense that it was intended only for believers. I am sure that some have found hope and comfort within these lyrics and I am happy for you. However, there are better songs with more solid lyrics, providing a more profound impact on both Christians and the unsaved.
Final Score: 7/10
Artist Info
Track: Beautiful Things (listen to the song)
Artist: Gungor
Album: Beautiful Things
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2010
Duration: 5:10
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2009 worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
John
I love that someone does these reviews especially in these times. I would say because the song doesn’t glorify God but rather a God that these guys are trying to find God in their own strength, by their own efforts. I think they are making an idol of God. I would say a 5/10 for their glorification of God
Vince Wright
John,
I appreciate your compliment and thoughts. Thanks!
-Vince Wright
Megs
I find the song beautiful in context and in tune.
I do not know the history of Gungor until now (until I googled it today, cause I only heard this song yesterday).
Each person worships the “concept” of God that they believe. Either you’re a Christian or from a different worldview.
But as a Christian, I love this song and will sing it in honor and glory of God. 🙂 Not because of the “concept” Gungor who fashioned this, but because I just love God with the “concept” of God that is revealed to me through my growing relationship with Him.
With all that said; I believe that God makes beautiful things out of the dust. You (God) make beautful things out of us.
Cause nothing in me is good, but only You.
Shalom 🙂
Vince Wright
Megs,
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate that you shared your views on this song.
-Vince Wright
Matt
In no interview does Gungor say that this song is about a boyfriend or girlfriend. He explicitly says its about watching God through his local church. He says “This song is an expression of hope that God will make beautiful things out of the dust in our lives, and God will somehow use us, use our obedience and love, our feeble human effort, and build Himself a kingdom. I see that God is using suffering to bring us closer to Him.”
The smallest amount of research would have done this, but you put your own pride ahead of it and wanted to boost yourself up and pass yourself off as a religious philosopher for your own ego and your own pride. It’s shallow, and it has no place in worship. You’ve gone out on a leap to try and sound “biblical” by saying “Oh HUM WELL IF IT DOESN’T SAY GOD THEN IT MIGHT BE ABOUT A GIRL.” But before this you source every biblical influence on the song and it’s numerous….It’s clear you went into this struggling to find something awful about it. And so you forced criticism.
If you think you have to scream God’s name at the “uninitiated” for them to realize what a song is about then I fear for what you think of the general population. You view them as less, you view them as stupid, you view yourself as having acquired secret knowledge that somehow makes you better than everyone else and you then control the gate. Newsflash, you don’t control the gate. God does.
And I say this to you not as a novice but as someone who has spent 30 years in the church, is sitting in one right now for work, and holds a degree in theology.
You hijacked a perfectly fine song to put you and your “I’M RIGHT, YOU’RE WRONG” brand of the faith over.
May you be reminded that YOU are the one in the temple selling sacrifices for worship to fill your own pocket, and Jesus is the one flipping your tables in pursuit of truth faith.
Vince Wright
Matt,
Thank you for your comment!
You are correct in that Gungor did not say that this song is about a boyfriend/girlfriend; However, my commentary is that from an unbeliever’s perspective, Gungor’s message is more likely received as boyfriend/girlfriend language than a relationship with God. Your commentary has not changed my view on this.
Despite what you may think about me, my goal is not to put my pride ahead of further research, forcing unwarranted criticism, portray unbelievers as dolts, place myself on a pedestal as a bastion of secret knowledge, or to declare that I am right and others are wrong. If I came across that way, I apologize for my tone. Had Gungor been more clear, I would have happily complimented them on their usage of language and scored it accordingly. It is obvious that you disagree and would have rated it higher. Fair enough.
I am glad that you’ve studied theology for 30 years, with a degree to boot! I’ve studied for a mere 10 years, with no theology degree to my name. I have a Bachelor’s in Computer Science.
Finally, I appreciate your concern about my motives, opinion, and salvation. May God bless you richly so that you may bless others with your good fortune (2 Corinthians 9:8).
-Vince Wright
Laura
I wish you had taken the time to actually list what songs you feel would express this same sentiment but as you say, with more “profound impact.”
Ben
This perspective is exactly why most of “Christian art” sucks. Why does everything have to be spelled out in plain language? You made the point yourself that this song is full of biblical reference and imagery.
Kimberley Flink
2:30 am awoke hearing this song,when this happens I know that this is the Lord God singing a sing of deliverance over me. I’ve learned to go to the lyrics when this happens, the presence of the Lord manifest and ministers and he uses secular and Christian songs too for his purposes. He does this because He is God
While I see what was written it saddens me as it’s mostly human speculation and sadly when this is on the web, people start to question others walk and/or motives instead of praying and asking God to use it as good seed. I’m sure I’ve done the same so don’t take offense.
God can use a rock, a donkey or as mentioned a secular song to accomplish what he wills whenever he chooses.
Here is an example: Song “Maneater” by Hall and Oats
When you look at the lyrics it appears that this is a seductress woman they are singing about. This is far from the truth. This song was written about lust, avarice and the hunger for making money. Its been a couple of years ago when the Lord gave me a lesson about cupidity in relation to Valentines day. Much more about this but the point I’m making is God has used many secular songs in my walk to deliver and minister.
Please don’t allow subject content like this lead folk into doubtful disputations it just wreaks a religious spirit in operation. I hate that spirit as it simply works to create some bondage.
Please I encourage you to expose the false teachers that are leading many astray. There’s no speculation in that.
Shalom
Vince Wright
Kimberley,
Thank you for your comments!
I encourage you to re-examine my criteria page, where I explained that God can use songs regardless of my review. Also, I have some content on my Resources page about questionable teachings from artists.
-Vince Wright
Karine
I personally think it shows a great message! I think that when listening to it you can decipher that it isn’t talking about boyfriend/girlfriend, but of course it’s different for every person. I appreciate this website, since nowadays it is hard to tell if Christian music is pointing towards God or ourselves, and this is a great resource. Keep it up!
Robert Mariani
There is someone larger than a boyfriend or girlfriend in the lyrics. Book of Esther never names God, right? The troublesome thing for me is the songwriters’ crisis of faith in the midst of writing a song of faith. I’m afraid also for people not availing themselves if the healing in the lyrics over the controversy. Besides this there is a lot contemporary Christian not theologically astute.