Photo by Jake Hills
It’s been more than a year since I reviewed a Jesus Culture song! Thus far, I reviewed Rooftops, You Won’t Relent, and Your Love Never Fails, each receiving mixed to positive reviews. Perhaps Move will do well?
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?
It communicates the following messages:
- God’s light destroys darkness.
- God’s justice is powerful.
- He is in the business of turning wayward sinners into adopted saints.
- He teaches His children to love mercy.
- Jesus is the King of kings, to which every knee will bow and confess Him as Lord.
It also teaches one minor error:
- God turns none away. This is both true and not true. He turns away those who die without receiving Christ into the lake of fire; However, He does not turn away authentic repentance.
Side Note: To those who are sensitive to massive repetition, Chorus repeats itself nine times.
Score: 9/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
Most of it is Biblical; However, as mentioned in section 1, I take exception with Verse 1, line 2.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
When You move, darkness runs for cover
This is because God’s light conquers darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).
When You move, no one’s turned away
Yes and no.
Yes in the sense that He will not turn away those who genuinely seek Him (Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Kings 22:5, 2 Chronicles 30:18-20, Psalm 14:2, Psalm 63:1, Psalm 78:34, Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9, Acts 17:27-28, and Hebrews 11:6).
No in the sense that those who do not will be eternally separated from Him (Genesis 3:7-8, Isaiah 59:1-2, Matthew 7:23, Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-9, and Revelation 20:11-15).
The latter is contrary to the phrase “no one’s”.
Because where You are, fear turns into praises
That is, afraid of God’s wrath upon them turns into praising Him. He is in the business of turning the heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, and Hebrews 8:10).
And where You are, no heart’s left unchanged
See commentary in line 2.
[Chorus]
So come move, let justice roll on like a river
This comes from Amos 5:24 and is foundational to God’s throne (Psalm 89:14).
Let worship turn into revival
Lord, lead us back to You
See Verse 1, line 3.
[Verse 2]
When You move, the outcast finds a family
When You move, the orphan finds a home
We become adopted children of God (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).
Lord, here we are, oh, teach us to love mercy
According to the prophet Micah, that is what God requires of us (Micah 6:8). This is the other foundational attribute to the throne of God (Psalm 89:14).
With humble hearts, we bow down at Your throne
Jesus Culture worships with all their heart (Psalm 86:12, Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 119:10, and Psalm 138:1).
Jesus, oh-ooh-oooh
The first part is the One who moves. The second is what I normally jokingly refer to as Casper the friendly ghost; However, with its close proximity to Christ, I’ll make an exception. Yet, I just let the cat out of the bag, so I suppose it will be impossible to put the toothpaste back in.
[Bridge]
King of all generations
That is, Jesus as king of kings (1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16).
Let every tongue and nation
Surrender all to You alone, Jesus
References Philippians 2:9-11.
King of all generations
Let every tongue and nation
Surrender all to You alone, oh, You alone
Repeats lines 1-3.
[Spontaneous]
Back to You, Jesus
Back to You
Back to our first love
Back to our first love
Jesus, Jesus
The reversal of God’s message to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5. It is a call to repentance.
Score: 9/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Most of it should be comprehensible to an unbelieving mind, but I fear that Jesus Culture’s message of God turning away none has universalism implications, albeit a small one. I also wonder if God’s justice rolling on will place, within an unbelieving mind, images of an angry God hellbent on bringing up every mistake they’ve committed. I also wonder if God’s justice will lead them to the cross, realizing that everything they’ve done wrong would be forgiven.
I pray for the latter.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God through its message of a transformed life, only slightly veiled by God’s turning away none.
Score: 9/10
Closing Comments
Jesus Culture’s Move is a good song overall. Their messages of God’s light destroying darkness, transformation of sinners to saints, and Christ’s Kingship bring glory to God. While it states that God won’t turn away, which might not be true for unrepentant sinners, its overwhelming message of God’s justice and mercy, I hope, will draw unbelievers to the foot of the cross.
If you’re not bothered by my nitpicking “no one” in Verse 1, then consider it for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: Move (Live) (listen to the song)
Artist: Jesus Culture (Feat. Chris McClarney)
Album: Living With A Fire (Live)
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2018
Duration: 6:50
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2014 Jesus Culture Music (ASCAP) Meaux Jeaux Music (SESAC) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears Music (SESAC) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), So Essential Tunes (SESAC) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
03/31/2022 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Jesus Culture’s theology.
03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. I increased section 1’s score, raising its overall rating from 8.5/10 to 9/10.
10/15/2020 – Commenter Savannah Moore noticed an inconsistency with this review alongside my recent changes to Sinach’s Waymaker and showed me Biblically how I was mistaken about God’s justice. I’ve updated my review and significantly altered my scoring, raising it from 6.5 to 8.5/10.
05/23/2020 – Added Scripture reference and commentary regarding Amos 5:24, where the phrase “let justice roll on like a river” derives.
Comments
Savannah Moore
Hello! I wanted to say I appreciate your site SO much as a resource, as I am passionate about leading theologically sound songs for corporate worship. Not to mention, it is helpful when looking for Scripture to give context to some of the songs and lines we sing! Overall, I love it.
I’ve gotta say, this one is way too nit-picky for me, and honestly, on the verge of an unbiblical review, in my opinion. Let’s address your two main claims, if you don’t mind––
1. “God turns none away. This is not true. He turns away those who die without receiving Christ into the lake of fire. Jesus Culture may be inadvertently teaching universalism.” – The context of the line is this arc of healing, redemption, restoration, etc. When God is moving, these things happen. When God moves in someone’s heart to turn to him, he will not turn them away. So I would say the idea that no one is turned away is within the context of God moving in our hearts and lives, as the song sings about. I believe the phrase “turn away” implies it is His response to someone turning TO Him. Furthermore, if you were able to ultimately give Way Maker a 9/10 even though it far more brashly asserts that God is here, touching, healing, and mending EVERY heart, then I think you should have the flexibility to agree that when God will not turn anyone away, with the fairly universally understood message that this is for those in whom God is working and changing, drawing to Himself.
2. “Jesus Culture’s message about justice rolling is not consistent with their message of mercy. If God gave us justice, we’d all end up eternally separated from Him.” The whole point of Christ’s death on our behalf is that He can still be just and implement His justice without us having to suffer His wrath or the penalty for our own sin. His mercy does NOT invalidate His justice. “The Lord is a God of justice” (Isaiah 30:18). “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (Isaiah 61:8). “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!” (Psalm 106:3). “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). God’s justice and desire for justice on the earth is an unchanging theme throughout Scripture. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14). This is the FOUNDATION of God’s throne, His rule. Praying that His kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven implies that our prayer is for JUSTICE on the earth as it is in Heaven. This is what this song is crying out for––justice from God and justice by the way His people live on the earth. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
Thanks for all you do!
Vince Wright
Savannah,
Thank you for your comments and compliment! See my responses, below.
1. Originally, my review of Waymaker scored 7/10, but for many of the same reasons as you cited in your message to this review, I decided that a less harsh, though still with some reservations, scoring should apply. You’ve also reminded me that, as much as I attempt to keeps review thoughts consistent, especially when I change my mind, I fail miserably at times. With more than 350 reviews under my belt, it becomes an impossible task to go through and compare all the songs I’ve reviewed when I alter my thinking. That’s why comments such as this are helpful, showing that my past reviews ought to reflect current thinking.
2. My pastor preached a sermon a few weeks ago about Biblical justice. Many of your points raised were things I hadn’t thought about before, chiefly, that justice hasn’t gone away after Jesus died and rose again. As you said, righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne, written in Psalm 89:14. God’s justice will be brought about upon us or upon Christ. In hindsight, I placed mercy as subservient to justice due to James 2:13, forgetting that justice is foundational.
With both of these in mind, I’ve altered my review and raised its score. If you see any other inconsistencies, let me know.
-Vince Wright
Savannah Moore
I was definitely not trying to critique you at all! I appreciate your reviews as a resource so much and was glad to help offer some consistency. It’s also really cool to see the updates you give and to see how your mind can change and open more over time. I am the same way! I’m a stickler with theologically sound lyrics (I took a while to consent to leading Way Maker, to be honest, for the same reasons you expressed hesitations) but I’m learning to have a little more grace for how we can express ourselves to the Lord, even congregationally. Thanks for all you do and the example you set!
Vince Wright
Savannah,
How kind, thank you very much! I appreciate your encouragement about updates.
-Vince Wright