Following their successful 2010 release, Horseshoes & Handgrenades, Fair Trade Services band Disciple is ready to make some noise once again with the Nov. 13 release of O God Save Us All. The group's latest project is a tight, vibrant collection of hard-hitting rock songs with a redemptive heart and includes their current hit single "Draw The Line," which has already hit the Top 5 on the Billboard Christian Rock chart and Top 15 at CHR.

 

The 11-track album is complete with turbo-charged sound, with a touch of some of the industry's favorite songwriters. Contributors like Ben Glover (Brandon Heath, Lee Brice) and Seth Mosley (Newsboys) co-wrote tunes with Young on "Outlaws," "Draw The Line" and "Once And For All." The band's current single, "Draw The Line" was also co-written with Glover and Mosley and arrests the listener with slamming rhythm and melodic heart to match. Disciple's drummer Trent Reiff steps out from behind the skins for this project to co-write a couple songs, including the album's title track and next rock single.

 

"When I write songs I always ask, 'How is this going to go over live?'" said Young. "I think when you hear the songs on this album it's definitely loud, but it goes to a whole different level when you hear it live; everything is turned up a notch, not just in volume, but in the energy and intensity. We want our songs to move people, to get them to respond and give a feeling of being wrapped up in the music and we hope that's exactly what this record does."

 

I had the opportunity to interview Kevin Young from Disciple about "Draw The Line."

 

 

I was very excited to write this song. I co-wrote it with Seth Mosley who co-wrote "Born Again" with Newsboys and Ben Glover who co-wrote "Dear X" with me on our last record. The three of us got together in a room, and we started discussing the struggle that Christians have, where we try to do the right thing, try to do good under our own power, and try really hard, and we fail. The same is true right after we receive Christ, and our habit is to think that we're going to try really hard. That's not how it works after we receive Christ. It's a matter of faith, a matter of trust, and most of all, a matter of relationship. 

 

Jesus tells us in John 15, "apart from Me you can do nothing." In Philippians 4:13, we read that "I can do all things through Christ." There's this idea in the Gospels that we have been set free from sin, and it is no longer our master. We decided to write a song where we are saying we are done trying to stop sinning, but that we are giving it to God. I need You to burn me up, set me on fire until there's nothing left of me, and all that's left is You.

 

John 15:5: "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

 

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
 

Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

 

This song is written from a perspective of a Christian who is trying over and over again to be holy, and knowing he/she/we can't do it under our own strength. For someone who has never received Christ, the message of this song applies to anyone. Maybe it's about taking care of yourself from a health perspective, or drug addiction or any other issue you're facing, you run into the same wall. You realize that you are wired to want to do bad. You wonder why you are wired that way. You don't just try to mess up, you even kind of want to mess up. 

 

In the Book of Genesis, God says when He looks at man He sees that his thoughts are bent on evil things. For the person who doesn't know God, this song can hopefully relate to them that they can't do it on their own. They need a Savior, and there's a small voice inside calling out for something better, and to do good. Then there's this overpowering voice that wants to do evil all of the time. When we reach that point, we need to realize that we are desperate for a Savior. We need God beyond ourselves to help us. Another message of this song is that not only are we not meant to fight sin alone, but we aren't meant to walk alone. That's the message to every single person on this earth. We were created to live and have a relationship with our eternal living God. Outside of that, we'll find the opposite of what we're looking for.

 

 

IVP Bible commentary: "Thus Paul concludes: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. With that he transforms his very Stoic-sounding sentences into a sufficiency quite beyond himself, in Christ, the basis and source of everything for Paul. Thus 'self-sufficiency' becomes contentment because of his 'Christ-sufficiency.' Here is a much-used sentence from Paul that is often taken out of context and thus abused. While everything seems to be all-embracing and is often applied to one's activities, especially those that are personally demanding—athletics, learning to drive and the like, in context it refers primarily to living in want or plenty. Paul finds Christ sufficient in times of bounty as well as in times of need! Thus, rather than being a Christianized version of the Stoic ideal, this passage points up the absolute Christ-centeredness of Paul's whole life. He is a man in Christ. As such he takes what Christ brings. If it means 'plenty,' he is a man in Christ, and that alone; if it means 'want,' he is still a man in Christ, and he accepts deprivation as part of his understanding of discipleship."

 

There is a lot of great biblical truth throughout this song. As Disciple challenges us in the song, "This is where I draw the line." As Christians, we certainly have moral convictions that conflict with the worldview our culture offers us. Stand up for what you believe, with conviction, and draw the line.

 

This song is one of my favorite rock anthems of the year. I can't get enough of the musical style and it reminds me of one of my "Dear X" bands of the 1980s, Def Leppard, which is so poignant. I wasn't saved as a teenager when I listened to songs that weren't edifying with messages filled with promiscuity and self-fulfillment. I can personally assure those who don't know Jesus that those things will never fulfill or satisfy you. I love how Disciple doesn't compromise their Christ-filled messages while still belting out culturally relevant rock songs. Even if you don't normally listen to hard rock, you really must check out this amazing song and I guarantee you'll be hooked by the music and Kevin's passionate vocals.  

 

Say goodbye to the vices that have enslaved you in the past and lay them at the feet of Jesus. The Bible tells us that "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus, tell sin,"This is where I draw the line, This is the where the old me dies, Light a match, let it burn, kiss it goodbye, Giving up what I was, This is where I draw the line." What a great gift--freedom from sin. Share that gift with someone this Christmas.

 

(You can listen to this song here.)