The NRT staff comes together to bring you a robust collection of songs and reflections, addressing prejudice, cultural differences, and standing firm in faith. From rock band Downhere's contemplative "1000 Miles Apart" to the late pop artist Mandisa's stirring anthem "Bleed the Same," each piece offers a unique perspective on overcoming biases and building bridges in a world that often highlights division.
These songs challenge us to reflect on how we can rise above our differences, love one another, and stay true to our beliefs, even in the face of societal pressure. Through music, these artists inspire us to embrace unity and compassion.
Downhere - “1000 Miles Apart”
Downhere was always great at tackling complex issues. This song on racism and dealing with cultural differences always struck me as a standout. Singing about maintaining brotherly relationships amidst cultural and racial differences, “1000 Miles Apart” calls us to rise above our conscious and unconscious prejudices. With a throwback musical veneer and low-key delivery by lead vocalist Marc Martel, this song stood out in the band’s musical catalog. These lyrics have constantly challenged me to consider how to bridge gaps with others and come together as brothers and sisters in Christ. - JJ Francesco
Naomi Raine - "World on Fire"
Worship artist Naomi Raine’s song lights a fire in us to know and proclaim what we stand for—no matter what the world tells us to do. Persecution of the U.S. church is coming. Indeed, we face spiritual warfare daily. Don’t compromise your faith. Don't forsake God or be ashamed of the Gospel. Stand up for what you believe. The world is in its last days. So, it’s essential to think about what you’d be doing if the Lord returned today. If you do face compromise, know that God forgives. He is a God of infinite second chances. “World on Fire” depicts the message of our blessed hope that God is with us in our everyday lives that we need to hear, “Maybe not everything’s fair in love and war/What if the flood was because when it rains, it pours/But maybe it’s not such a bad thing to set it on fire/Start again.” - Kevin Davis
Leanna Crawford - "Uncool"
In an increasingly ungodly culture, taking a strong stance as a believer and being unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ can seem taboo and feel like the least popular way to live. We are constantly confronted with the choice to stand firmly for what we believe or to bow to a world that mocks Christians and says, "Anything goes." I love the song "Uncool" by contemporary artist Leanna Crawford. It's become an anthem song for my comedy nights and on my social media platforms to encourage other Christians not to care about what people think regarding their faith. We are called to live bold, courageous lives; if that's uncool, we must be okay with it. He's worth the labels the world wants to slap on us, and ultimately, our identity is in Christ, so those labels don't matter anyway.
“If it's uncool to say that I love Jesus/If it's uncool to sing about my freedom/Then I'm cool being uncool/If it's uncool to tell the world who saved me/I don't care if they call me crazy/'Cause I'm cool being uncool.” - Janice Henriquez
"Colored People" - DC Talk
It was written 30 years ago but still hits hard—a sign of any great song that remains timeless. Recorded on 1995's monumental album Jesus Freak, "Colored People” from DC Talk addresses the issue of racial prejudice head-on by celebrating the vast diversity of humanity. In some ways, our culture struggles to look beyond external differences and embrace each other as a reflection of God's creative genius. This call to unity is still needed as we all work together equally. - Kevin McNeese
"Huddles Masses" - American Arson
American Arson is a rising Christian hard rock band carefully shouting into sensitive topics. This two-person powerhouse released a poignant and powerful record in 2020 titled A Line In The Sand, which addresses cultural and societal issues through a hopeful lens. "Huddles Masses" is a little on-the-nose and for good measure. They call for your attention to be directed towards the neglected, but then they remind you that they resemble you and me. We should show sympathy and love for everyone because we need some, too.
"Oh, I can see them/These huddled masses yearning to breathe free/They look a lot like you and me." - Ryan Adams
“Bleed the Same” - Mandisa (feat. TobyMac and Kirk Franklin)
“Bleed the Same” by Mandisa is a powerful reminder that regardless of how we look on the outside, we’re all the same on the inside and created by the same loving God. We live in a world where people can be so quick to judge and label us, whether it be race, age, socioeconomic status, and the list goes on. We are created in the image of God, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Like Mandisa says, “We’re more beautiful when we come together.”
"If we’re gonna fight, let’s fight for each other/If we’re gonna shout, let love be the cry.” - Felicia Holt
Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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