In Defense of "What This World Needs" by Casting Crowns

As the song leads to some thought of Christian liberalism and of Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) disobedience, the mark of which the song really wanted to express is nonetheless is shelve out of context. I accept that this song bears several contrasting or should I say controversial verses that most Christians would really react. Many asks of its real purpose by the implications of the verses "just get out of the way" from the spoken part of the song and the "we're slowing it down" lines.

From Youtube's comments down to some youth Christian forum, the debates of whether the song still holds biblical truths or not has created confusion. In my own opinion, by taking the song into context and in analogy to reality, we can certainly get what it really meant. So, for it to be expounded we need to put in the lyrics and analyze it by verses or by lines whichever is mere applicable. But before that let me quote the Great Commission:

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

In this light we can create analogy.

What this world needs

Is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind

Another two bit politician peddling lies

Another three ring circus society

What this world needs

Is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you

Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth

Another prophet in an Armani suit

The increasing politicking in the frames of religion is what this verse is all about. Every year, we watch televangelists that are famous. We tend to listen to them and spend our time with it that having s second reading the Bible and investigate. We are very much keen of who's in now and who has the more advanced and effective evangelistic tactics than just simply going to the simpler way and more Jesus way of proclaiming the gospel. We go beyond just what the Bible suggest we do just to satisfy philosophical theories or psychological inclinations that we know are plain humanistic in nature. We tend to discredit the power of the Holy Spirit by employing our skills, our charisma, or our intelligence - yet we thought we are just obeying the great commission.

What this world needs

Is for us to care more about the inside than the outside

Have we become so blind that we can't see

God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt

What this world needs

Is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance

Blending in so well that people can't see the difference

And it's the difference that sets the world free

In my observation, first in the local churches is that, young people are very much after the outward results of their actions rather than the inward implications of the actions of God. This is what the Christian adults have been teaching the young people in my local. They were conditioned to conceal their hearts to protect it from attacks without thinking that God himself protects the heart if we only know where to put God in our lives. We are missing the marks because we are so busy thinking about how we will be able to look or to act with freedom yet accordingly.

People aren't confused by the gospel, They're confused by us.

Jesus is the only way to God but we are not the only way to Jesus

This world doesn't need my tie, my hoodie, My denomination, or my translation of the bible

They just need Jesus

We can be passionate about what we believe

but we can't strap purselves to the gospels

Because we're slowing it down.

Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do

Is just get out of the way.

At present, we can hear so many sermons and interpretations of the Bible. Some claim that they are Churches of Christ yet does not recognize His deity. They claim they are the only way to salvation thereby discrediting Christ as the only savior. We tend to present our doctrinal views of the Bible rather than letting people know God in its simplest, more understandable way - the way God wanted to be known. THE BIBLE CLEARLY WANTS THE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD BE RESTORED! We are missing this. By removing ourselves from the picture and bringing only the goodness and sovereignty of God, "we get out of the way."

The Great Commission simply says of the standard and the best process of using the "authority" not given to us but only given to the One who sent us. There are no spins or tricks in Matthew 28:16-20. The command is a direct command and everything that a Christian should do is already there. No ornaments, because sometimes, the decorations are what makes it confusing.

Finally, the chorus:

What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love them in their time of need

A Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love

That's what this world needs

... this sums it all.