Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa, & Matt Redman (Feat. Matt Boswell) – Lovingkindness

Keith & Kristyn Getty are modern hymnists.  Keith began his career in 1995 as a soloist.  He married Kristyn in 2004, becoming a duet act as Keith & Kristyn Getty.

The Getty’s released sixteen albums and one EP together, including:

• New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (2004)
• New Irish Hymns 4: Hymns for the Life of the Church (2005)
• Songs That Jesus Said (2005)
• The Apostles’ Creed (2006)
• Modern Hymns Live (2006)
• In Christ Alone (2007)
• Keswick Live (2008)
• Awaken the Dawn (2009)
• Joy – An Irish Christmas (2011)
• Hymns for the Christian Life (2012)
• Modern and Traditional Hymns: Live at the Gospel Coalition (2013)
• Facing A Task Unfinished (2016)
• The North Coast Sessions (2018)
• His Mercy Is More (2019)
• Resurrection – EP (2020)
• Evensong: A Collection of Hymns and Lullabies at Close of Day (2020)
• Sing! Global (Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference) (2021)

Also, check out my other Keith & Kristyn Getty reviews, including The Lord is My Salvation, See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn), My Worth Is Not in What I Own, Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, and In Christ Alone.

Matt Papa is another modern hymnist who began his career in 2005.  He released 11 albums, including:

• You Are Good (2006)
• Worship Vol. 1 (2007)
• Your Kingdom Come (2008)
• Scripture Songs & Hymns 1 (2009)
• Your Kingdom Come (2009)
• Scripture Songs & Hymns 2 (2010)
• This Changes Everything (2011)
• Look & Live (2 Cities Music/The Summit Church) (2013)
• Church Songs (2016)
• Songs From The Wilderness (2019)
• His Mercy Is More (2019)

Matt Redman is a household name, humbly beginning with his band Soul Survivor at the ripe old age of 15.  He left his band to pursue his solo career, releasing 14 studio albums and 4 live albums.  This doesn’t include compilation albums.

He won numerous awards, including two Grammy’s, ten Dove’s, and one Cranmer Award for his work.

Also, check out my other Matt Redman reviews, including You Never Let Go, The Heart of Worship, Wonderful Maker, Mercy, Better is One Day, Blessed Be Your Name, and 10,000 Reasons.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Keith-and-kristyn-getty-matt-papa-and-matt-redman-lovingkindness-live-lyrics.

Side Note: For the remainder of this review, I will combine all the artists named as “the artists”.

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?

We Christians praise God as King and master of our lives because Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, leads us out of our darkened state of sin and doubt, and grants us His undeserved righteousness.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song is full of Bible-based themes without misrepresentation.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: This is based on Psalm 57:7-8, pointing towards the artists’ zeal through punctual and consistent praises during their first waking moments with a melody.

Lines 3 and 4: Followers of Jesus sing His praises (1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1-2, Psalm 98:1, and Psalm 149:1).

Lines 5 and 6: God is faithful to carry out His plan to save us, even if we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).

Lines 7 and 8: Describes God as King (Exodus 15:6, Exodus 15:11, 1 Chronicles 29:11, 2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalm 24:10, Psalm 93:1, Psalm 110:2-3, Psalm 104:1, Psalm 145:5, Psalm 145:12, Job 37:22, Isaiah 24:14, Isaiah 26:10, Hebrews 1:3-4, Hebrews 8:1, Revelation 4:1-11, and Revelation 19:7-16) whose lovingkindness is bestowed upon us (Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 36:5-7, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 69:16, Psalm 117:2, Isaiah 54:8, John 3:16, John 13:34, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 8:37-39, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 5:25, Titus 3:4, 1 John 4:8-10, and 1 John 4:16-19).

[Chorus]

Lines 1-4: We praise God in song (see Verse 1, lines 3 and 4) because He gave us undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).

Line 5: Essentially repeats line 1.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: God’s laws are perfect, protecting us from doing evil things (Psalm 19:7).

Lines 3 and 4: A rhetorical question with an obvious answer: none of ours.

Lines 5-8: Psalm 30:5 describes darkness and night that ends with the morning dawn.  Darkness is where doubts and fears persist, yet, God helps us find the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: Jesus died for us (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Lines 3 and 4: Jesus stated that greater love is to die for your friends (John 15:13).  He was no hypocrite, practicing what He preached by dying for us in our sinful state (Romans 5:6-8).

Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.

Line 9: Essentially repeats line 4, personalizing it for God.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will quickly recognize terms such as “God” and “cross” that creams “Christianity”.  Despite its many everyday words, the artists’ message to unbelievers is simple: God died for their doubts and darkness.  While technically true, the artists could have done a better job explaining that “darkness” is lawbreaking, not mere error.  Christians will see the connection easily while while those who are outside of Christian circles may not comprehend what the artists imply.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God, who is worthy to receive our worship in song because of Christ’s loving sacrifice to rescue us.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa, & Matt Redman’s Lovingkindness is great.  Though unbelievers might not connect “darkness” with “lawbreaking”, everyone should see its Christian themes of darkness that God sought to overcome.  Through Jesus’ loving sacrifice on the cross, forgiveness is offered and prompts our worship.  This glorifies God.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.  Seeker-sensitive churches may consider explaining “darkness” before playing.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Lovingkindness (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa, & Matt Redman (Feat. Matt Boswell)

Album: Sing! Global (Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 4:28

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