Truly compelling music makes the personal universal. Few artists have done that more consistently or more movingly than Big Daddy Weave. Through more than a decade of hits like "In Christ", "Audience of One", "You're Worthy Of My Praise", "Every Time I Breathe", "What Life Would Be Like" and "You Found Me," they have shared the journey in a way that has won the ongoing respect of fans, press and industry alike. 

 

Their musical journey began with a Dove Awards nomination as New Artist of the Year in 2002, and went on to earn a 2010 Dove Award for the album Christ Is Come. They have been honored at ASCAP's Christian Music Awards, were chosen for the WOW Hits compilations in five of the last six years, and are one of the 10 most-played artists at Christian radio over the past decade.

 

Most recently, they hit the top of the Christian Adult Contemporary chart--the fourth time they've done so--with "Love Come To Life." It's a song about wanting to show Christ's love by more than what we say, but with our actions. A song filled with the band's trademark passion, intimacy, musical hooks and majestic sound, it is the perfect introduction to Love Come To Life, their first studio album in more than three years, released April 17.

 

"What a blessing" said an ecstatic Mike Weaver from Big Daddy Weave. "We are overwhelmed and honored that our incredible friends throughout Christian radio are playing this song. We are also so grateful for the amazing radio department at Word Label Group and our amazing fans!"

 

I had the great opportunity to interview lead singer Mike Weaver about the title track from the new album.

 

 

We have not had a new album since 2008. In the music industry--like dog years--that's a long time between albums. The theme of our last album, What Life Would Be Like, was about letting Jesus live through us and not having it be our own efforts. At the same time, just like the Bible says, "faith without works is dead." As TobyMac said, "Luv is a verb." 

 

As believers, we live with this knowledge of God's love, and we are recipients of God's love, but He never intended for it to stop there. I feel like as I'm ready to point my finger at the Church, I am reminded that I am the Church. I see the effect of God's love on my life. The reason that Jesus poured out His love on us was so the world would know who we are by the way we love one another--not just the way we talk about it. I see a lack of that in my own life. I was looking for how to write about that concept, and originally I was singing about activating the love inside of me but that word activate was kind of funny to try to sing. 

 

After throwing this idea around with the guys in the band, the lyric turned into Yoda speak, like "bring to life this love inside of me," which was backwards, and then it became "bring Your love to life inside of me." It clicked from there. The verses came from our hearts. We wanted to sing about how we can prove that the love we feel inside is real and being lived out. The song became a prayer. This song is a message of putting hands and feet to the Gospel and it's a call to not just say we believe in love and helping those in need, but to actually live a life that reflects the love of Christ in every way. I say I love, but that sometimes it stops at words and doesn't turn into action. Jesus is love come to life. My prayer to Him is for love to come to life in all of us, in what we do, not just what we say.

 

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

 

1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

 

 

We recently partnered with World Vision for a trip to Tanzania to work with impoverished families within the community. We've partnered with them since we started the band over 10 years ago. We traveled with Russ Lee from NewSong some years ago. When we were with him, he would share about the ministry, and every single band member of Big Daddy Weave personally became child sponsors from hearing Russ talk about the ministry. 

 

We had previously traveled to Ecuador and God did a huge work in our hearts. Most recently we traveled to Africa, and we saw hardship as you'd expect. We also saw the good and hope that was being instilled in people due to the ministry. I met believer after believer due to the work of Jesus being done by the great ministry. When people saw how they were being served by believers in Jesus, they were converted as well. For me, I'm such a talker, and the message of this song and the Holy Spirit has challenged me to actually do what I'm singing about. The missions trip reminded me again that people being the recipient of the love of Jesus makes them want to know Him personally. I love that. There's no convincing needed. The display of the love of God is the greatest apologetic. That's really beautiful.

 

 

Asbury's Bible commentary: "Chapter 13 is a forceful critique of arrogant Corinthian spirituality. Paul does not deny the genuineness of spiritual gifts, but he dismisses their value as evidence of spiritual superiority. Submission to the lordship of Christ, not inspiration, is the hallmark of spiritual people. Holy love, not gifts, is the one essential evidence of the Spirit-filled life. Chapter 13 prepares for the central emphasis of Chapter 14: Clear, intelligible communication, not confusion and chaos, is to characterize everything that is said and done when Christians gather together. Edification, not enthusiasm, is the criterion by which spiritual gifts should be measured. Others, not self, are to be the focus of Christian existence. In a word, the pursuit of love succinctly describes the Christian way of life. In recognizing love as the highest goal of the Christian life, Wesleyans have correctly caught the emphasis of 1 Corinthians 13. Nevertheless, our emphasis on perfect love makes us especially vulnerable to ridicule when we fail to demonstrate it. Have we lived out our profession in dealing with tongues-speakers in our churches? Have we shown them patience and kindness? Have we kept no record of wrongs? Have we given them the advantage of the doubt?"

 

Love Comes To Life is the first new album by Big Daddy Weave in over three years. Their last album What Life Would Be Like was one of my top ten albums of 2008, featuring the hit title track and "You Found Me." I've been anxiously awaiting the follow-up which features the No. 1 hit title track. This new album demonstrates once again the passion and energy that have made Big Daddy Weave one of Christian music's most compelling acts for nearly a dozen years. 

 

True to form, the project reflects real life and emotion, from longing and struggle to breakthrough and gratitude, with frontman Mike Weaver's forthright songwriting and intimate and unmistakable vocals backed by powerful arrangements and stellar musicianship. It derives its power from the fact that life and music intertwine so fully. 

 

After repeated listens, the sincere and poignant lyrics, musical excellence and Mike Weaver's compelling vocals make Love Come To Life my new top album by this great band surpassing all of their previous excellent albums.

 

The commentary says, "In a word, the pursuit of love succinctly describes the Christian way of life." As Mike and I discussed the song and the profound message, we talked about how we are commanded to love others by Jesus. This song challenges me to think about how well I am loving others. 1 John 4:19 says "We love because He first loved us." That's what hit title track "Love Come To Life" is all about. If you like the song, get this album immediately as this album has a cohesive theme based on the lyrics of that super-catchy song, "Bring Your love to life inside of me, a generation that you're calling out, living everything that we sing about." Amen! 

 

(You can listen to the song here.)