Photo by Ashton Mullins
I’ve been reviewing a lot of Rend Collective lately. I reviewed two songs in April, namely, Build Your Kingdom Here and My Lighthouse, both fine songs for church service, with a slight modification of Build Your Kingdom Here. Combined with my first Rend Collective Berean Test analysis on Rescuer (Good News) back in January, this post on Boldly I Approach (The Art Of Celebration) marks my fourth evaluation of song lyrics from this Irish folk band.
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?
There are a lot of themes fused together into the core message, that as righteous individuals, we have the right, as adopted sons and daughters, to enter God’s Kingdom and overwhelming arms of love. Other themes include:
- salvation by grace alone
- adoption
- redemption
- approaching God’s throne
- God fighting our battles
- God as protector
- life after death
I found the second line of Verse 1 initially problematic, assuming that the phrase “Where even angels fear to tread” referred to immature individuals doing foolish things. It’s not something I wish to communicate with others, that we should stand in that place. I think that Rend Collective attempted to communicate that approaching God’s throne while sin-stained is foolish; However, the phrasing used communicates a different message. I looked unsuccessfully for Rend Collective’s explanation and requested if anyone knows where I can find it or has an alternative view, that I might be willing to change my mind.
As mentioned in the introduction, a commenter presented an alternative view, that angels feared God’s throne in the sense that they held deep reverence and respect for it. I currently believe that Sarah’s view is more likely; However, the usage of a popular idiom in this context is unfortunate.
Score: 8/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
I found all the lyrics to agree with Scripture.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
By grace alone somehow I stand
A mantra of the Protestant Reformation, grace alone stance finds Scriptural support in Romans 3:23–25, Romans 11:5–6, Ephesians 2:4-10, and 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Where even angels fear to tread
This line initially didn’t make Biblical sense in light of the first line. This comes from Alexander Pope, who wrote in his 1711 poem An Essay on Criticism, now an idiom meaning inexperienced people attempting something that wise people avoid. It is not found in the Bible.
Is Rend Collective suggesting the unbiblical idea that standing on grace alone, salvation depending on only God, is unwise? Or is where “angels fear to tread” referring to something else, perhaps their collective deep reverence and respect for God?
If we go back to the first line, it begs a question: where do I stand that angels would fear to tread? Lines 3 and 4 answers this question: it is before God’s throne (Isaiah 6:1-6). However, the idiomatic phrasing is unfortunate as it could
Invited by redeeming love
Before the throne of God above
He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands
Into His everlasting arms
The last few lines indicate Jesus is the One to whom invited Rend Collective into His loving, everlasting embrace (Matthew 11:28-30) and brings them before the Father’s throne. The latter is true given that Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand (Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:55–56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews+12:2, 1 Peter 3:22, and Revelation 3:21).
The nail-scarred hands reference the crucifixion of Jesus (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).
[Verse 2]
When condemnation grips my heart
And Satan tempts me to despair
I hear the voice that scatters fear
The word satan means “accuser” or “adversary”, both of which he uses to lure us away from God. He has come to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). James 4:7 calls us to submit to God and resist the devil. It is His perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
The Great I Am the Lord is here
As spoken by the Father to Moses in Exodus 3:14 and Jesus’ use for Himself in John 8:48-59.
Oh praise the One who fights for me
This an Old Testament concept, where the Lord fought for Israel’s army in Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 1:30, Deuteronomy 3:22, and Deuteronomy 20:4, finding a loose connection in Romans 8:31 in New Testament theology.
And shields my soul eternally
God as protector is found in Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18. New Testament theology demands a guaranteed spiritual barrier.
[Chorus]
Boldly I approach Your throne
As commanded in Hebrews 4:16.
Blameless now I’m running home
By Your blood I come
The first part of line 2 is God’s declaration that we are righteous, that is, in right standing with God because of Christ’s redeeming blood (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).
The second part of line 2 references the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:23-27. We are to continue running towards God and to live for Him. There is a similar reference in 2 Timothy 4:7 in which Paul said that he finished the race and kept the faith.
Welcomed as Your own
A loose reference to adoption (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).
Into the arms of majesty
Derivative of Verse 1 line 6. Majesty is a Lordship term, indicating God’s sovereignty over His creation (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).
[Verse 3]
Behold the bright and risen Son
More beauty than this world has known
Eloquently summarized in Psalm 50:1-2. Psalm 27:4 and Isaiah 4:2 are also fitting.
I’m face to face with Love Himself
Though not literally, that is the hope and promise we have in Revelation 22:4.
His perfect spotless righteousness
Three ways of describing the same attribute of God in the same sentence. Well played, Rend Collective!
God is righteous (Exodus 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:4, Judges 5:11, 1 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Ezra 9:15, Nehemiah 9:8, Job 37:23, Psalm 7:11, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 11:7, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 35:24, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 48:10, Psalm 50:6, Psalm 65:5, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 103:6, Psalm 119:137, Psalm 71:19, Psalm 111:2-3, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 5:16, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 12:1, Lamentations 1:18, Daniel 9:14-16, Micah 6:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Zechariah 8:8, John 17:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 15:3), 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), and the Son is the perfect, righteous, spotless sacrifice (1 Peter 1:19).
A thousand years, a thousand tongues
Are not enough to sing His praise
They’re not enough
But we can still try, for all eternity (Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).
Running into Your arms
Combines portions of the econd and fourth lines within Chorus.
[Bridge]
This is the art of celebration
Much like the party the father threw for the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:22-24.
Knowing we’re free from condemnation
Oh praise the One, praise the One
Who made an end to all my sin
As eloquently described in Romans 8:1-39.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Despite the high usage of Christian terminology, unbelievers should easily understand the core tenets of the themes described in section 1. Yet, I cannot rate this higher than section 1 given my earlier commentary.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It does glorify God in more ways than one; However, the slight compromise in Verse 1 diminishes it somewhat.
Score: 9/10
Closing Comments
Much like their song Build Your Kingdom Here, Rend Collective’s Boldly I Approach (The Art Of Celebration) Approach is highly biblical, has a great message easily understood by non-Christians, and brings glory to God. It also contains a slightly troublesome line.
Worship leaders may want to consider it for its high Biblical accuracy, but should be aware of the idiom in Verse 1 might cause questions.
Final Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: Boldly I Approach (The Art Of Celebration) (listen to the song)
Artist: Rend Collective
Album: The Art of Celebration
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2014
Duration: 6:02
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2014 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
10/24/2019 – Commenter Sarah Fisher got me thinking about angelic fear as deep reverence and respect for God. Upon closer examination, I agreed with her, causing me to remove my criticism of Verse 1 line 2 and raising the overall score from 7/10 to 9/10.
Comments
Ben Ross
By grace alone somehow I stand
Where even angels fear to tread
You appear to have interpreted these 2 lines approximately as “I stand on God’s grace, how foolish am I” which you say is unbiblical which I agree would be correct for that interpretation. However I don’t think your interpretation is correct or at least not the only one. I suggest that it can be interpreted as
I have put myself in a foolish place, but I can still stand on God’s grace
that is God’s grace is still available to me even when I make poor decisions. I realise that I have basically reversed the order of the lyrics in that interpretation, but I don’t think that the 2 lyrics have to be linked at all i.e.
I stand on Gods grace
I do foolish things
are both independently true. The reasons I think this is a reasonably interpretation is firstly based on Rend Collectives other songs I do not believe that they would have intended the meaning you propose because “how foolish am I to rely on God” is clearly unbiblical, as you say, and is not born out in the lyrics of their other songs. Secondly I think it is reasonable, within artistic license, to reverse those lyrics for interpretation.
Weather my view is obvious or not is unclear to me, it may be that your interpretation is the one that someone more unfamiliar with Rend Collective’s music might come to and that would be bad and I do listen and sing long to the music everyday on my way too and from work so I am probably somewhat biased.
tastywallet
Ben,
Thank you for your comments! You are correct in that I am not familiar with their music, independently analyzing their lyrics as best as I can. When I did my research on this song, I was already familiar with the famed idiom “where angels fear to trend”, started by Alexander Pope, so my thinking is that Rend Collective used the phrase without thinking about the idiom’s meaning.
I’ll pray on and will mull over your interpretation.
-TastyWallet
Sarah Fisher
I take “where even angels fear to tread” as a reference to God’s unapproachable holiness. I think of Isaiah 6 where the seraphim hide their faces as they proclaim God’s holiness. While seraphim are not angels, they are heavenly beings, and I believe it is accurate to say that all heavenly beings are acutely aware of God’s holiness and the reverence and awe that being in his presence evokes. In this interpretation, “fear” it is more the “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” kind than the cowering kind that Paul says (Romans 8) has been replaced by the spirit of sonship. If you take this view, there may be some artistic license, but it’s not as unbiblical as you perceive it to be.
Vince Wright
Sarah,
Thank you for your challenge! It is the combination of the Alexander Pope quote and its close proximity to line 1, where the place that “I stand” due to grace is “where even angels fear to tread” that lead to my view.
I hear what you’re saying, that “fear” is deep reverence and respect for God. As I started to think about it, it begged a question in my mind: Where do I stand that angels would revere and respect? Is this question somehow answered in these lyrics? Yes, it is! Lines 3 and 4 says “Invited by redeeming love Before the throne of God above”. Where I stand is before God’s throne. It is before God’s throne that angels fear to tread, leading to your view more likely than my own.
In light of this revelation, I updated my review.
-Vince Wright