Back again with another article in the running series on the music we sing together at our services. This one is centered on the song, “All The People Said Amen” by Matt Maher. This song came out on April 23, 2013, but the first time we sang it was February 22, 2015. There was almost 2 full years between its release and us singing the song corporately at a Sunday morning service.
I wanted to take a moment to explain that in some more detail. This might not be something you’ve ever thought about, but I know many of you often get excited about new songs being released and will approach me in person, or online, and suggest that we play such and such a song. I’m not writing this to discourage any of you from doing this, but I did want to explain one of the reasons why these songs don’t always make it into the rotation.
It's important for songs to be “tested” before they’re sung corporately.
One of the tenets that we strive to uphold with the music at Good News is that we are singing truth. But furthermore, it’s important that we are singing something that hopefully is more than a “one hit wonder”. Meaning that we sing it once, or twice, and never again. This is extremely difficult to do, and I know that we aren’t without our failures in this area. However, the best way I’ve found to accomplish this is with actual “time”.
You might be thinking, well that’s a cop out, but think about music that you listen to on the radio. There’s that new hit that just came out from your favorite band (or artist), and you hear it that first time and you totally connect with it. All you want to do is dance around your house, or in your car, and scream out the lyrics. But let’s zoom out to a year from now, or even a month, the song just hasn’t retained its allure. You hear it and you cringe at parts that you once found irresistible.
This happens with “church” music as well. Truth is truth. I can objectively read lyrics and see that this song speaks truth, but the melody and tune that that truth is attached to also has importance. Remember, we’re trying to teach truth in memorable ways through the music that we sing.
All that to say, I wanted to encourage you, if you ever make a song request, just know that I do keep these in a list and I revisit it regularly. But often I’m giving the song time to marinate and make sure that it’s a good fit for us as a church body.
Wow, that was a long round-a-bout. So let’s get back to the song itself. Here are the lyrics:
You are not alone, if you are lonely
When you feel afraid, you're not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need
When you feel afraid, you're not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need
And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen
If you’re rich or poor, well it don't matter
Weak or strong, we know love is what we're after
We're all broken but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And he so loved the world he sent His Son to save us all
Weak or strong, we know love is what we're after
We're all broken but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And he so loved the world he sent His Son to save us all
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God
Who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God
Amen. This phrase, “All the people said Amen”, is repeated over and over again.
If you’ve been in church for a long time, you might have heard “Amen” said numerous times. Often it’s used at the end of a prayer, but sometimes it can be spoken after a statement, or a verse is read. What does “Amen” even mean? I’ll give you a clue, it’s not just some word that’s said. There is meaning in it.
“Amen” means, “so be it”. In Hebrew this word translates to “firm” and “faithful”.
In 2 Corinthians 1:20, ‘For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.’
When we pray, sing, or read God’s Word, and say, “Amen”, we are together saying that this truth is “firm” and “faithful”, and together we agree “may it be so” through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Now let’s look through phrases in this song that we are proclaiming “Yes” to in Christ…
When we sing:
“We are all the same, in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need”
“We are all the same, in need of mercy, to be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need”
Psalm 62:1-2
I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
When we sing:
“Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends”
“Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends”
1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
1 John 4:16-17
And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment […]
And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment […]
When we sing: "We're all broken but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall”
God knows we stumble and fall”
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
When we sing:
"And he so loved the world he sent His Son to save us all”
"And he so loved the world he sent His Son to save us all”
John 3:16-17
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
When we sing:
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people longing for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God
We’re singing directly from Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount. This is famously called the “beatitudes”.
Matthew 5:3-10
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
There it is! I hope this has been a help to further understand how songs are chosen here at Good News, and also bring deeper meaning to “All The People Said Amen”. If you haven’t heard this song before, you can listen online.
