Jordan Merritt may be new to the spotlight, but his years of songwriting and leading worship have made him a quiet force in Christian music. From his roots on a family farm in Knoxville to his eclectic denominational background, Merritt’s journey reflects a deep understanding of community, faith, and connection. In this candid interview with NewReleaseToday's Founder, Kevin McNeese, Merritt opens up about his new song "Human"—a track designed to foster conversations about love, truth, and unity.

Merritt shares his thoughts on the church's role in engaging in tough conversations, the challenges of navigating today’s divisive climate, and how music can be a tool for healing. Whether you’re familiar with his growing discography or just getting to know him, this conversation reveals the heart behind the artist and his vision for using music to bridge divides and encourage unity in the body of Christ.

You can watch and listen to our full conversation with Jordan here, or read an edited transcript below. 

Yeah, thanks for having me. I've written for a lot of people. I'm from Knoxville, Tennessee, born and raised. I've lived in Nashville for seven years, South Dakota, Connecticut, and just moved back to Knoxville to my family farm. I'm a farm boy at heart. I’ve been leading worship since I was about 15 and started writing songs around 17.

Music and church are really all I’ve ever wanted to do. If I had to do anything else, I’d be in trouble. The Lord has opened doors for me to be a worship pastor at multiple churches across different denominations—Southern Baptist, Reformed, United Methodist, Wesleyan, and even Charismatic. I’ve been all around, asking hard questions along the way. Most of my life has been about writing and being a worship pastor. In the past few years, I felt it was time to step out as a solo artist. My wife and best friend were pushing me to sing my own songs, and now here we are.

Well, you must have been writing a lot because you've released a massive amount of music in just a year. You’ve had two albums, and now you’ve got a new song, which we’ll get to. Were you holding onto these songs, or have you just been writing nonstop?

I think I had a lot in my pocket, yeah. I’ve been fortunate to be around some amazing writers. For years, I’ve said I get put into rooms I don’t belong in. I’ve accumulated a lot of songs over the years, but I’ve also turned it up and write more than ever now. I’m blessed to have a lot of great people around me.

It shows in your music. One of your songs, "Scary," is on repeat for me, and it’s not like anything else you’ve released. You’ve got this mix of genres, and you’re like a genre-mutt in the best way. Everything is coming together, just like farm life—it's chaos, but it works!

[Laughs] Yeah! I’ve tried to figure out what my sound is, but I still don’t know. If anyone wants to tell me, I’ll gladly accept it. I just appreciate that you enjoy it.

Let’s talk about your new song, "Human." It just came out and it’s starting conversations, which seems fitting. What’s been the early response?

It’s been interesting. When I wrote "Human," I thought people would immediately resonate with it, and some did. A few said, “This is the song of my heart.” But others were scared of what I didn’t say. As an artist, I live in the gray. I’m comfortable with questions and uncertainty. I intentionally left things unsaid in the song to allow different people to connect with it, but it has led to mixed reactions. Some love it, while others want to know what I really think.

For those who haven’t heard the song, let’s give them some context. It’s about conversations, but how would you sum it up in a paragraph?

I believe that what makes us truly human is our ability to have conversations. We can have disagreements, beliefs, and ideas. God wants the church to be in unity, and we can’t have that if we don’t sit down and talk. Jesus Himself wanted to do it with us. It’s in our DNA to have relationships and connect, to engage each other in love without straying from the truth. That’s what the song is about—engaging each other in love the way Jesus intended.

The first line of the song says, "I know it feels like every word begins a fight." That’s so true in today’s world. How do we have conversations when it seems like everything leads to conflict?

You’re right. Social media has made it harder. People are more likely to react without fully understanding. I love having people over for dinner because you really get to know them. There’s something about sitting down face-to-face that reveals so much more. It’s part of our makeup as humans to have real, personal interactions. I think we’ve moved away from that and need to come back to being present with each other.

It’s hard to do when you mix in words like love, unity, and togetherness. These are feel-good words, but they can get twisted. How do we protect ourselves in conversations while staying rooted in Jesus?

For me, it’s about knowing the truth and being anchored in the Word of God. My dad always asked me, "What’s the truth?" And I’ve carried that with me. The truth comes from Jesus, and that’s the foundation for every conversation. I’m open to being wrong, but you’ve got to show me through scripture. That’s the authority for me. I approach every conversation not needing to change someone’s mind immediately, but being confident in who I am in Christ.

Jordan, I love what you’re saying. You’ve given us a lot to think about. To wrap things up, if someone is watching and loves what you’re saying but doesn’t know where to start, what would you recommend? How can they begin this journey?

I’m still learning too, but I’d recommend starting with the Gospels. Look at how Jesus engaged with people—how He was patient, firm on truth, but always gracious. I also recommend the book Crucial Conversations. It’s about creating a place of safety for hard conversations, which is key in leadership and relationships. But above all, look to Jesus as the example of how to love and engage with others.

A portion of this text and a final edit from the video transcript was generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, October 17, 2024