The Altar and the Door – Casting Crowns
Let me start this post by singing. Please understand the lyrics to get its meaning.
The Altar and the Door Lyrics
Album: The Altar and the Door
Artist: Casting Crowns
Careless, I am reckless.
I’m a wrong-way-travelin’-slowly-unraveling shell of a man
Burnt out, I’m so numb now
That the fire’s just an ember way down in the corner of my cold, cold heartREFRAIN:
Lord, this time I’ll make it right
here at the altar I lay my life
Your kingdom come and my will was done
my heart is broken as I…CHORUS:
Cry, like so many times before
But my eyes are dry before I leave the floor
oh Lord I try
But this time, Jesus, how can I be sure
I will not lose my follow through
between the altar and the doorHere at the altar,
oh my world so black and white
How could I ever falter
What You’ve shown me to be right
repeat refrain and chorusI’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me
Jesus, I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord who You are in me
Oh Lord, I…
repeat refrain and chorus
While understanding the lyrics, I found out that Mark Hall, the composer, is also pointing the song to me. Sometimes I feel that the fire of serving the Lord is replaced by such cold heart. I make covenant to the Lord at the altar with my pastor praying for me, that somehow He will show to me how good He is and how will I give His love back. So refreshing to feel that way.
But then… after that, I mean after leaving the altar and after passing the door of the church, I am encountering the glory of the world. Yes, the WORLD. I repeat, World. Should I stand firm to spark the light? I know I will but there is always an instance that my light fades… You know what I mean?
Struggling, right? Then come Sunday again, having enlightened by the word of God and having understood by the message of pastor, I make the covenant again at the altar. Guilty of what I did, I said to my Savior “Lord this time, I make it right. Here at the altar, I lay my life. Your kingdom come but MY WILL was done. My heart is broken.” Then I cry, because many times I promise to the Lord and always feel that I am caught between the altar and the door. Then I asked, “This time Jesus how can I be sure that I will not lose my follow through between the altar and the door?”
I am trying so hard. To stop trying so hard. Just let You be who You are. Lord who You are in me. Jesus I am trying so hard.
The bridge of the song tells me that Mark Hall is not the one who is holding unto Jesus but… Jesus is the one holding him to get closer to Him.
Isn’t that great? The Lord of Lords. The King of Kings is holding me? I am not perfect. I understand that. I always cry because I feel guilty knowing that He died Himself on the cross just to save me and yet, MY WILL is always done and not His. Lord, please help me to be sensitive on Your will.
Well, that is just an introduction of this music album review. hahaha I am perfectly talked by the lyrics and so of course, I should react and write my reflections of the song. Thanks if you are reading them and more thanks if you understand of what I was talking about. hehehe
Casting Crown’s The Altar and The Door Album is super way cool and super dooooper great! Yup. Great! It inspires me and surely it will inspire you too. If you don’t like living with hatred and you can’t escape to the environment where you can always listen to sad songs, switch to christian music now! And let’s talk about love! And replace hatred with love. Listening to christian songs will help you remember that these things in this world are always not going to be perfect. But Jesus paid our imperfections. Being not ignorant about this will keep you happy always. I swear.
Casting Crowns reach out to young people like me who are called to His purpose. Songs like Prayer For A Friend, Somewhere In The Middle, I Know You’re There, What This World Needs… simply rock for Jesus!
Well, my final rating for this album, 100%.
Because of who He is
Please read Psalm 8.
Psalm 8:4 Then I ask, ‘Why do You care about us humans? Why are You concerned for us weaklings?’
The pronoun “I” on the verse refers to David. He wrote Psalm 8 expressing his praise how wonderful the name of the Lord is. He said Let Your glory be seen in the heavens above. Thus, David has witnessed the goodness of the Lord.
What strikes me most is in Psalm 8:4, David asked the Lord in wonder, why do God still cares for us humans even if we are all unworthy and we are all sinners. David was simply curious and he wanted to know more about God.
Well, I agree with David. I wonder why God chose to send His only begotten son just to save us from death, when we don’t deserved the grace. For humans, no person would dare to give love unless someone will love the person back. Aren’t we? But it is so different with God, why the heck He cares for us when we don’t care anything about Him at all or that much. That always leaves me in wonder.
Until I sing this song from Casting Crowns Who Am I, I finally found the answers to the question. Mark Hall, the lead vocalist of Casting Crowns, also have similar questions like that from David. The lyrics of Who Am I…
Who Am I?
That the Lord of all the earth.
Would care to know my name?
Would care to feel my hurt.Who Am I?
That the bright of morning star.
Would choose to light the way.
From my ever wandering heart.
Just like David and Mark Hall, I also have the same feeling. Why me, Lord? I am just a poor reflection. Why is it that You called me? But then, Casting Crowns helped me find the answer.
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are.
And I did find the answer. It’s not about How could You love me but how could I love You. He does care for us even if we don’t care Him back because He is love. God is love. And we know that, the fact that He gave His only Son just for us. (John 3:16) And now, I reminded myself again, that God is love.
And that is so amazing.
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