Casting Crowns

Some perceive critics as Teflon figures. That somehow these scribes are completely objective, all the time. But truth be told, critics are humans just like everybody else. (I know. That’s sometimes hard to believe, especially after all the national exposure meanies like Simon Cowell get.) And critics of spiritual music are as easily touched by the Spirit via music as is the average Christian music fan, which brings us to Casting Crowns, an unusually touching band.

This live CD/DVD underscores how down to earth this humble group truly is. Composed of folks that are far more like you and I as opposed to the airbrushed pop tarts modern publications push our way, Casting Crowns are real people. And these guys don’t cover miles of stage space, the way dcTalk could marathon in their prime. Even though the band throws in a little “Dueling Banjos” during “Praise You with the Dance”, these are not flashy instrumentalists either. Furthermore, this performance – which focuses on songs from the recent The Altar and the Door – has very little in the way of special effects, such as bright lights and video screens. In other words, the group could put this same show on in just about any good sized church across America. Stated more bluntly, Casting Crowns wouldn’t likely be called back twice after a Hollywood casting call.

But Hall is a pastor, with a pure pastor’s heart. And like an effective pastor, Hall has his finger on the pulse of his congregation – in this case, his audience encompasses everyone with a sincere heart for God. So while he and his group lack all glitz and pretense, Hall gets his points across effectively; in a way where messages stick with you like post-it notes utilizing Super Glue adhesive.

The crux of Casting Crown’s emotional magnetism begins with “The Word Is Alive”, and continues on with “Somewhere in the Middle” and “East to West”. Bolstered by Melodee Devevo’s stirring violin, “The Word Is Alive” makes Holy Scripture come to vibrant life. Christians often wonder how life might be different if they only lived during Jesus’ lifetime, yet at the same time all but forget that His living words have always been with us — without losing an ounce of power. If Christians want to hear God speak, they need to delve deeply into His lively, living Word. This is a wakeup call for all who only open their Bibles on Sunday morning, if at all.

Although this concert comes in both aural and visual mediums, Hall’s introduction to “Somewhere in the Middle”, which is left off the CD portion, is essential to appreciating this song. Before digging into singing the song, Hall explains how believers need to have a personal walk with Jesus – one that is away from the church. When we’re at church, he says, we know exactly what we should and shouldn’t be doing. The pastor is quoting scripture after scripture, and the worship team seems like it’s singing to a Jesus sitting right there in the front row – as though they’re making direct eye contact with Him. But Hall theorizes that while we are at church, we are experiencing others’ Jesus. And when we leave the building – “somewhere between the altar and the door” – we leave their Jesus far behind. All we have on our side away from church is that relationship we’ve cultivated with Jesus personally. It’s a great song, and an even greater message.

Yet the real powerhouse song is “East to West”. God promises to remove our sins, as far as the east is from the west. Yet when Hall admits during the song, “But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away / From you leaving me this way,” he’s speaking for every one of us. God may vow to forgive and forget, but humans are not quite so forgetful; neither is Satan, our accuser. We need constant reminders of God’s miraculous forgiveness, and this song drives that point home, like nails in “one scarred hand to another.”

One of this DVD’s bonus features is the music video for “Slow Fade”, which is yet one more of those highly emotional tracks. It speaks of how most people don’t quickly backslide from their faith; instead, their drift is a slow fade. The visual, which focuses on a husband who is tempted to have an affair with another woman, is consistently right on target.

It’s impossible for any honest Christian – music critics included – not to be moved by Casting Crowns at their best. And they’re at their best most of the time during this excellent concert.

↓ One comment

#1 John Wofford on August 19th, 2008 at 12:24 am

Dan, I’m loving the way you went about writing this review. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of this group, but you walked a fine line between the usual disdain we critics have for “simple music” and the need for that same simple music during worship. Albums like those by Casting Crowns are hard to like (especially when, in my opinion, Mark Hall comes across a wee bit too preachy) when looking at them technically, but worship and reverence is another thing entirely. You opened a new door for conversation. Bravo!

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