Photo by Ryan Pernofski
Hillsong is an Australian megachurch that was founded in 1983, growing into a global empire that contends for the #1 Christian Music influencer. They are a mainstay in modern Christian music, with a massive discography to boot.
Hillsong occasionally receives awards within their Hillsong United and Hillsong Worship artist groups. As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.
Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.
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?
This song is a combination of disjoined points that lacks a theme. These points include:
- God’s mercy overcomes Hillsong’s error
- God is eternal
- God’s light shines
- God’s glory is higher than all others
- Hillsong yields to God’s will, worshipping Him
This song also has two problems.
First, as I will explain in more detail from Scripture in section 2, Bridge, line 3, contains the phrase “consume me”, which is about destruction. It’s not a good thing when God consumes Hillsong!
Second, Bridge, lines 4 and 5 don’t make sense. It reads like Hillsong wants to receive God’s wrath upon themselves. They probably meant that they will accept that God will judge people, but the way it’s worded, it doesn’t sound that way. Also, it says that they will embrace praise. What does that mean? Do they mean praising God or others to praise them? Again, I think I know what they meant: praising God. But, Hillsong could have written this more clearly or left this out entirely.
Score: 7/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
While I normally penalize points for unclear pronouns, I’ve chosen not to because “Lord” appears once, which Christians will likely interpret as the Christian God.
Having said that, this song is somewhat Biblical; However, as stated in section 1, it has a few problems.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your Mercy remains
Contrasts Hillsong’s past sins (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) with God’s mercy (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Luke 6:36, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:16, and 1 Peter 1:3).
Should I stumble again
Still I’m caught in Your Grace
According to 1 John 2:1, Jesus is faithful to rescue Hillsong if they choose to break God’s laws.
[Chorus 1]
Everlasting
God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13).
Your Light will shine when all else fades
God’s light shines amid darkness (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, Matthew 4:16, John 1:1-8, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:14, James 1:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, and Revelation 21:23).
Never ending
See line 1.
Your Glory goes beyond all fame
God is glorified (Exodus 16:7, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 40:34-35, Leviticus 9:23, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 19:1-4, Isaiah 6:1-3, Isaiah 40:5, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 58:8, Isaiah 60:1, Habakkuk 2:14, John 1:14, John 17:22, Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 21:10-14, and Revelation 21:23), which, based on His Sovereignty (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11), implies that His glory is above all others.
[Verse 2]
Your Will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
Hillsong’s purpose is to surrender their will to God (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).
[Bridge]
In my heart, in my soul
I give You control
See Verse 2.
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Consuming references God’s “consuming fire”, which appears in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29. However, the way that Hillsong uses it is incorrect. They mean “consume” to be a good thing, but the Bible says otherwise.
Deuteronomy 4:21-24 is about God’s anger and judgment. Moses tells the Israelites that he will not enter the promised land because he sinned (Numbers 20:8-13 and Deuteronomy 32:51–52). He warns Israel not to commit idolatry because God is a jealous God; a “consuming fire”. Jealous not because He is envious, but because of Israel’s unfaithfulness (compare Merriam-Webster definitions 1 and 2b).
Regarding Hebrews 12:29, the context begins in Verse 26, which quotes from Haggai 2:6. Notice in Hebrews 12:26 that it’s not just the earth that shakes. It is also heaven! Haggai 2 also mentions the heaven(s) shaking. There is also the “once more” that appears in both passages, denoting a future event. Hebrews 12:27 talks about the shaking process, leaving behind the Kingdom of God that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). Then, finally, it adds God as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), which takes us back to God’s judgment in Deuteronomy.
Where else in Scripture does it talk about heaven and earth shaking, God’s judgment, and the unshakable Kingdom? The book of Revelation! Specifically, the seventh bowl of wrath (Revelation 16:17-21), Christ’s judgment on unbelievers (Revelation 19:11-21 and Revelation 20:11-15), and new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-27).
Thus, when Hillsong asks God to “consume me from the inside out”, they are asking for God’s wrath and judgment.
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
Why would Hillsong want to receive God’s judgment? That doesn’t make any sense. Also, what does it mean to “embrace praise”? Does Hillsong mean that they will accept that they should worship God, or will receive praise from others? They probably mean the former, but it’s not clear from a linguistic standpoint.
To love You from the inside out
See Verse 2.
[Outro]
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
Hillsong worships God.
Score: 7/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
I’m not sure which deity unbelievers will conclude that Hillsong refers purely from the lyrics. It could apply to any deity that happens to be called Lord who is eternal, is light, and saves people. Whoever it is, they exist forever, illuminates, is worthy of worship, and whose justice should be embraced upon those who follow them. Then, they are expected to love and give their lives to said deity, who will consume them.
There are some truths here for them to comprehend, but this presentation by Hillsong doesn’t sound like a god they would want to follow.
Score: 3/10
4. What does this song glorify?
While it glorifies God that Hillsong praises God for His mercy over their sin, His eternality, and His light, it also contains a few issues that prevent God’s glory from glowing brightly throughout this song.
Score: 7/10
Closing Comments
Hillsong UNITED’s From the Inside Out is a mixed bag. While they are correct that God is everlasting, that His light shines, and that His mercy is better than continual sin, Hillsong errs when these lyrics state that we should embrace God consuming us, and that we should embrace God’s justice, somewhat marring God’s glory. They are also unclear on whose praise should be embraced, despite that I have a good idea that Hillsong meant God’s praise. Unbelievers will not want to follow the god described in this song.
I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 6/10
Artist Info
Track: From the Inside Out (listen to the song)
Artist: Hillsong UNITED
Album: United We Stand
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2006
Duration: 6:14
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2005 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
03/23/2022 – Upon prayerfully considering Neal Cruco’s comments, I removed my criticism of Hillsong’s usage of “should” and “light that fades”. I also updated my scoring, raising this song’s overall score from 4.5/10 to 6/10.
Comments
Neal Cruco
Vince,
Thank you for this review! I do have some dissenting opinions, though:
In Verse 1, Line 3, I think you’re using the wrong definition of “should”. The intended sense, I think, conveys possibility. It has an identical meaning as “if”, but sounds more formal. You could read “should I” here as “if I should”.
Merriam Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/should): “used in auxiliary function to express condition”
Cambridge English Dictionary (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/should): “used when referring to a possible event in the future”
Regarding Chorus, Line 2, I simply interpret it as saying that God is eternal (connecting back to the first line). He was, He is, and He always will be. His glory will not fade, even long after this entire universe is gone.
Regarding Bridge, Line 3, I don’t know that it’s accurate to connect this to the fire of God’s wrath. I interpret it as Hillsong asking God to permeate every part of them, until nothing is left of their old self. And since God starts His sanctifying work in the heart of a believer, the phrase “from the inside out” seems quite accurate.
Good points on the next line of the bridge, though. I will have to consider whether that line makes sense in any way. But again, I don’t think Hillsong is asking for God’s judgment, and I at least don’t see an unbiblical message in it, which makes it less bad in my view.
Vince Wright
Neal,
Thank you for your comments!
I agree with your first point. There is precedent to consider “should” as “if” when used in this context. I removed my criticism.
As for the second, I’m not sure if I agree with your assessment. My chief complaint here is that Christians have God’s light. Will that fade too? Maybe I’m just overreacting, especially when we consider that the light we have belongs to God. Even still, something seems…off about this.
Thirdly, I had responded recently to Steve Barhydt about another song that contained the “all-consuming fire”. I think Bridge, line 3 could be clearer if Hillsong used the word “refine” instead of “consume”. It’s not immediately clear if Hillsong refers to the refining process or destruction. We both agree that Hillsong likely intended to mean the refining process, but my commentary responds to this specific line.
Finally, thank you! Again, I don’t think Hillsong intended to convey God’s judgment on themselves, but I have to consider what it means to embrace justice, especially in the context of my commentary on Bridge, line 2. Had Hillsong used the word “refine”, then I might be more inclined to conclude that embracing justice aligns with the three levels of government that God gave us to mitigate evil:
1. The family unit (Proverbs 13:24)
2. The church (James 1:27)
3. The government (Romans 13:1-5)
However, at the moment, I must protest.
I updated my review.
FYI: I’m handling updates in the Song Review Index page directly in Excel and uploading the content to the site as a CSV file. It takes time to convert the file and upload it, so you won’t see the new score there until next Sunday.
-Vince Wright
Neal Cruco
Vince,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply and re-evaluation! I’ll just respond to one point:
“My chief complaint here is that Christians have God’s light. Will that fade too?”
Well, we have no light of our own. We merely reflect God’s light, as the moon reflects the sun. So I’d say that this line doesn’t imply that our light will eventually fade- just that God’s light will eventually be the only one.
Vince Wright
Neal,
True. Then, all other lights will eventually fade.
I updated my review again.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Vince,
I have to side with Neal on this one. (Surprise, surprise :))
I would further expand on a passage that you referred to in your response to me in your review of ‘Do What you Want To’.
Namely, 1 Cor. 3:9-15 (KJV)
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
**************END QUOTE**************
Many commentaries interpret the phrase “for the day” in verse 13 to be the Day of the Lord….
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/1Cr/1Cr_003.cfm?a=1065009
the day–of the Lord ( 1Cr 1:8 Hbr 10:25 1Th 5:4 ). The article is emphatic, “The day,” that is, the great day of days, the long expected day.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/1Cr/1Cr_003.cfm?a=1065009
The day shall declare and make it manifest, the last day, the great day of trial; see ch. 4:5. Though some understand it of the time when the Jewish nation was destroyed and their constitution thereby abolished, when the superstructure which judaizing teachers would have raised on the Christian foundation was manifested to be no better than hay and stubble, that would not bear the trial. The expression carries in it a plain allusion to the refiner’s art, in which the fire separates and distinguishes the dross from the gold and silver; as it also will silver and gold and precious stones, that will endure the fire, from wood and hay and stubble, that will be consumed in it. Note, There is a day coming that will as nicely distinguish one man from another, and one man’s work from another’s, as the fire distinguishes gold from dross, or metal that will bear the fire from other materials that will be consumed in it
**************END QUOTE**************
I don’t want to wait that long!!!
I want God to burn up the “wood, hay, and stubble” now, in this life, so that when I stand before Him I lose nothing and would have brought Him even more glory.
Much like the chorus of “Do What You Want To Do”, the bridge of this song begins with the words…
In my heart, in my soul
I give You control
This is a surrender to “Consume me from the inside out, Lord”
From David Guzik https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-1Cr/1Cr-3.cfm?a=1065009
**************BEGIN QUOTE*************
c. God will test the building work of all His fellow workers, so each one’s work will become manifest. Some build with precious things like gold, silver, precious stones; others build with unworthy materials like wood, hay, and straw.
i. By using the figures of gold, silver, and precious stones, Paul seems to have in mind the building materials used in the construction of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:14, 22:16, and 29:2). The “building” is what God builds in His people with the help of His fellow workers.
ii. Precious stones doesn’t mean jewels, but fine stone materials like marble and granite. Mixing the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God in the work of building the church is like using alternate layers of straw and marble in building. Straw may be fine, it may have a place (in the barn), but it is an inadequate building material. In the same way, human wisdom and fleshly attractions may have a place in life, but not in the building of the church.
d. The fire will test each one’s work: When God tests our work, it will be revealed what kind of work it was. Just as fire will destroy wood, hay, and straw, but not gold, silver, and precious stones; so the work of some will be revealed as nothing on that Day.
i. Notice that the amount of the work isn’t going to be evaluated (though it does have some relevance). Paul says the work will be tested to see what sort it is. If one did a lot of the wrong sort of work, it will be as if he did nothing. His work will be burned and will vanish in eternity. Moody wisely said that converts ought to be weighed as well as counted.
ii. Paul also referred to this great testing in 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. When our work is tested before the Lord, we will be rewarded according to what remains.
iii. It is a sobering thought: many, many people who believe they are serving God, but are doing it in an unworthy manner or with unworthy “materials” will come to find in eternity that they have, in reality, done nothing for the Lord. Some will be saved, but with a life that was wasted, and receive no crown to give to Jesus, for His glory (as in Revelation 4:10-11). He himself will be saved, yet so as through the fire shows that some will be saved, but barely saved, and saved with everything gone.
**************END QUOTE*********
That last paragraph should give all of us a desire for God to “consume, destroy, burn-up, annihilate, lay waste to, refine” (whatever term you want to use) the “unworthy materials” in our lives. Even the word “refine” when used in conjunction with “fire” means something is going to get burned up!
Therefore, I think that you are taking too literal a view of the word “consume”.
I know that you tend toward a literalist interpretation but even within the Bible there are times when an absolutely literal reading cannot be true.
Most notably, John 6:53-56
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Now, we know that Jesus was not espousing cannibalism but He was trying to make a spiritual truth and the bone-headed Jews couldn’t see past the material world.
Interestingly enough, He did not try to explain Himself to the unbelieving Jews, the “fair weather, love-a-free-meal” disciples, or the Twelve.
If you can give up the strict dictionary definition of “consume” and allow it’s “poetic” use, this song and “Do What You Want To” will make much more sense.
Hillsong is NOT asking God for “wrath and judgment” but rather His cleansing of the things that don’t belong in their lives.
Once God has done this cleansing, justice (the condition of being morally correct or fair https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/justice) and praise (the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship https://www.dictionary.com/browse/praise) become our “embrace” to love God from the depths of our being.
Don’t let the format of the bridge cause you to misinterpret the meaning “Let justice and praise BECOME MY EMBRACE TO LOVE YOU from the inside out.”
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Vince Wright
Steve,
As usual, thank you for your thoughtful and lengthy response!
My biggest takeaway from your response is your belief that I’m being too literal with my interpretation of “consume”. In my defense, there’s been several words/phrases that I often interpret figuratively. For example, blind/see as spiritual blindness/awakening, refuge/defense/shield as spiritual protection, and chains as slavery to sin. However, your charge is that I tend to lean towards a more literal view, not that I interpret everything literally. I appreciate that you brought up John 6:53-56 to remind me that I should consider figurative views when the literal doesn’t make sense. In my conversations with unbelievers who ask me if I take the Bible literally, I usually bring up John 10:9 and ask, “When Jesus says, ‘I am the door’, Is He saying he’s a wooden frame with hinges and a doorknob?” That seems to get my point across. We must interpret contextually, not literally.
In this case, I must protest. I think “refine” is a much clearer word than “consume”, which I discussed with you previously my reasons.
I realize that I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. I appreciate the thoughtfulness in your comments, as well as Neal’s. Both of you always give me something worth thinking about, even if I end up disagreeing.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Sorry for my long-windedness.
I like to prove my point with scripture (always) and with respected commentaries (when appropriate).
I usually create a comment in MS Word and then, copy / paste, it into the website. For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem as long in Word 🙂
I will try to curb my verbosity in the future. No guarantees though 🙂
Vince Wright
Steve,
Don’t be sorry! It’s one of your strong suits. I encourage you to keep posting these lengthy comments. I enjoy reading them!
-Vince Wright
Steve
I respect the work you have put into to “test” the songs lyrics against Gods word so thank you for that. That aside I would like to add that this song leads me to reflect on King David when he failed God morally. He paid the price of his sin yet continued to worship God because of his great mercy (A thousand times I’ve failed but your mercy remains). King David was ridiculed as he (lost himself) danced and worship God before the Ark of the Covenant (Your will above all else My purpose remains The art of losing myself In bringing You praise). When I worship song leads me to scripture and to reflect on his mercy, God called David a man after his own heart, I think that is blessing.
Christina
Firstly, thank you for your thoughtful efforts to review songs in light of scripture, and your openness to discussion. I have learned a lot from them.
I wanted to share my interpretation of the bridge:
“Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love You from the inside out.”
I read this to mean that justice and praise are how Hillsong wants to embrace God, that is, how they would show their love for God. This fits with with the rest of the bridge as a prayer for sanctification. The idea of showing love to God through doing justice (a means of loving our neighbor) is supported by Micah 6:8 and Matthew 25:31-46. While I don’t know a specific verse that says praise is a way we love God, it makes sense that we show love to someone by telling them why we love them.