To say BEC Recordings' artist
Jeremy Camp is keeping busy is an understatement. Not only is he releasing his highly anticipated new studio project,
Reckless, but he's also releasing his personal story,
I Still Believe, on Tyndale House Publishers.
It is his new-found life passion that spurs on this upcoming release and book--to live his life recklessly for God. Camp shares the concept of recklessness through the life of Paul in the title track and lead single, "Reckless."
Wearing both the artist and author hat, Camp's story, I Still Believe, will also be in stores this month. In I Still Believe, he shares, with unflinching candor and emotion, the extraordinary story behind his award-winning lyrics. His story reflects the influences from his impoverished childhood, rebellious teenage years, spiritual awakening at Bible College and the tragic loss of his first wife, Melissa, to cancer. The heart-wrenching spiritual journey that followed is a journey that reignited Camp's faith, inspired some of his most beloved songs, and paved the way for a second chance at love with his second wife, Adrienne.
I had the great opportunity to interview Jeremy about his song "Reckless." Here are the answers to the questions I asked him.
Regarding "Reckless," what's the main message of the song?
This song represents the theme of the new album. The song speaks to where I am in my life, and God has been teaching me about absolute surrender. It's interesting, about a year ago, I felt God asking me if He was enough for me. That had an impact on me. I had to think about all the things that I use to fill the void in my life. If Christ isn't our everything then we're going to be discouraged. We're going to search for circumstantial things that benefit us. I had to stop and say to God that I'm tired of myself and all the things I try to do to build my little empire. It's not about that at all, this whole concept of being reckless is based on the life of Paul in the Bible. The word reckless has a negative definition in the dictionary. It says "not calculating risk" or "doing something without regards to consequences." That's not generally a good thing. For me, when you're reckless for Christ, you're saying I'm willing to go where God sends me, regardless of the consequences. That's what the song is about.
Which Bible verses did you use in writing the song?
Acts 14:19-20: "Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe."
...and Acts 20:24: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
How can listeners apply that message in their walks as Christians when they listen to the song?
Paul was such a good example of living recklessly for Christ. He was shipwrecked, he was beaten, he was left for dead. In Acts 14, Paul returns to Lystra to share the Gospel—a city where, just days before, he had been stoned and left for dead. Paul's return is more reckless than crazy, and there's a difference. Paul wasn't being crazy for crazy's sake, saying, I don't care what's going to happen. I just want to go. No, when you feel God calling you to do something, you have to be obedient. And that's the difference. Paul was just obedient. That's what reckless is. With Paul, he said he considered his life worth nothing. The reason he could do the things he did, and not care about circumstances, is because he knew that his life wasn't his own. He had contentment and peace in that, and knew he was under the authority of His King, Jesus.
In a society where we live and think that it's all about pleasing ourselves, and live for our desires, the world is telling people to go and do what they want and ask God to bless you. That's so contrary to what we're called to do in the Bible. We need to ask God what He wants us to do. We need to walk into His will in what we're doing. Jesus told us if we want to save our lives, we have to lose it. We need to deny ourselves, and pick up our Cross daily, and lay ourselves down as a living sacrifice. We need to be crucified in Christ, so that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. When a warrior is under submission to their king, they fight for the king regardless of what will happen. I want to serve my King Jesus wholeheartedly and not be afraid of the consequences.
Lyrics:
Everytime I try to play it safe
Holding back just a little part of me
I find myself forgetting what
I say that I believe
The promise of Your Word
Is all I need
I'll lay my life down
And give it up
I'll give it up
I wanna be reckless
Cause You are endless
I wanna be shameless
And shout Your greatness
I will not be afraid
To surrender my way
And follow who You are
I wanna be reckless, reckless
I will lose my life
And just let go
Because I know this world is not my home
With fearless faith
I won't be moved
Unshakeable inside Your truth
You laid Your life down
And gave it up
So I'll give it up
I won't waste any more time
My life's Yours it is not mine
Use me Lord no matter what's at stake
IVP's Bible commentary: "Disgruntled by Paul and Barnabas's rejection of their worship, a crowd, incited to riot by Jews from Antioch and Iconium, stones Paul. They drag him out of the city, discarding what they think is a corpse. Paul's suffering issues in a quiet victory. Lystran believers gather around him. He gets up, reenters the city and the next day proceeds to Derbe to preach there. Victory is manifest in his recovery, as instantaneous as the cripple's healing, and in his freedom of movement. This last scene teaches us that being an instrument of God's saving blessing to others, even of miraculous workings, is no guarantee that we will be immune from persecution, including physical suffering."
Jeremy Camp's newest album Reckless has a cohesiveness and spiritual maturity that I can hear in every song. The title track has already made an impact on Christian radio charts and if you like Jeremy's previous hit songs of worship, then you'll also enjoy this song and album. This is one of my favorite songs of the year.
"Reckless" has a catchy and engaging feel and the theme is a great reminder and challenge to be reckless for Christ in our worldly culture and society. I think we forget those words quite often as followers of Jesus by keeping Him to ourselves. That is probably due to our shame over our own sinful natures and concern that others will consider our actions hypocrisy if they really know us. The Good News of the Gospel is that we don't have to pretend we've got it all together. That is certainly an area of sin in my life. I find myself wondering how I can "do" more to earn love from God and people. Only in the Name of Jesus and putting our faith in His sacrifice on our behalf can we be free from sin, shame and hypocrisy. This is a great and challenging song for believers. Many times we keep our faith to ourselves or maybe we just talk about Jesus with fellow Christians.
This song is all about the celebration of God's mercy in forgiving us and as Christians, we need to ‘pay it forward.' If the spirit of mercy is a basic element in Christian faith, then the expression of mercy is an integral part of faith. This expression of mercy constitutes faith in action. This song reminds me to be more intentional about what I do. I may not be able to get on a plane and fly to China and give out Bibles and preach the gospel, but how can I witness to my co-workers and my friends and my family? How can you be "reckless" for Jesus? He's ready for you and wants you to live for Him.
(You can watch the music video
here.)