Contemporary Christian band, We the Kingdom, has taken over the music scene in the past two years. Their gentle flow between genres is bound to draw the listener in as they cater to many different stylistic tastes. This diversity in sound most likely stems from their multigenerational mix of members.
We the Kingdom is comprised of Franni Rae Cash Cain, Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Martin Cash, and Andrew Bergthold. Many band members are related and the ones who aren't ensured to emphasize that they're bound together by faith. Some of their hits include "God So Loved," "Holy Water," and "Child of Love." In contrast, I decided to dive into some deep cuts from their album, Holy Water, that seem to have shied away from the spotlight.
We had a great conversation about the energy of "Waking Up" and the lyrical message of "SOS." When we moved on to "Don't Tread on Me" and "No Doubt About It," they offered a candid look at their connection to the songs. It was my pleasure to tie all of the pieces of this conversation together. I hope this inspires you to go give their music a try, especially the ones you don't hear as often on the radio - you won't be sorry.
"Waking Up"
As your eyes open, the fog is still thick on the streets. Dense and pressing over the world, it's a sign of desperation and slowly increasing heaviness. The moisture tingles on your skin as you step out into the early morning dawn, only to discover it's more magnificent than you could have dreamed. The sun is peeking its way through the clouds, declaring a route of entry. The day is coming. And in between the so-called darkness and light, there's a moment of peace where everything seems to standstill.
"When you accept Christ for the first time and several instances after that in life, there's a moment of being revived," Martin Cash, We the Kingdom's drummer, shares of their song "Waking Up." The band holds a consensus that this song is meant to convey that experience and as Martin says, the "nostalgia that accompanies the feeling."
He continues to remind us that the Sun rises slowly and as reflected in this tune's vivid instrumental break, so does breakthrough. God is not a Father who throws on the light switch and heads out the door. No, He opens our blinds to a beautiful day and stays with us. He does this so hand in hand, we can conquer it together. It gives me the chills just thinking about God's faithfulness and I'm not the only one who feels this way. Scott Cash, guitarist and vocalist for the band, describes playing the song as a "truly emotional experience." I find that the feelings here are derived from being in the presence of our majestic God.
Nothing about spiritual awakening is easy because surrender isn't a one-time ordeal. But if that description struck a chord inside of you, maybe it's time to reconsider your definition of revival. I love how Martin made sure to stress the fact that this renewal happens in many distinguishable moments throughout one's lifetime. Maturity has ushered in new realizations for me; revival can be called upon in the name of Jesus and revival can happen right now. Our Heavenly Father is not a one-time God. He is an all the time God and He is prepared to shock your soul. Are you ready to wake up?
"SOS"
Fog clearing is a natural phenomenon, metaphorically and speaking. The searing brightness of daytime cuts through the cloudiness of worry. Clarity seems to ride freely in on the wind. Then eventually, the moment passes; like everything on this Earth, feelings are fleeting. The brightness loses its beauty and you begin to shy away; lighting up the parts of your life that have been in darkness for so long isn't a pleasant experience. I'm familiar with the urge to retreat to the shadows. It's comfortable there, no expectations, no movement, no effort necessary. However, the pain and the conflict are overwhelming and when I decide to reside there, it's not long before my mind reaches a breaking point. I never fail to call out the universal "SOS" to God in desperation.
Romans 7 captures this with vivid imagery as Paul describes his battle, "sold as a slave to sin." Ed Cash, songwriter and vocalist of the band, explains that the bridge of their song, "SOS," is a paraphrase of verses 14 through 20 in this chapter of the Bible. It is so easy for our mind to get weighed down by earthly desire, to the point where we can't decipher the line between right and wrong anymore. I've spent months on end living in shades of gray, a waste of the time I could have been using to pursue Jesus.
It is when this unease begins to progress toward doubt that I find myself in a mental space mirrored by the lyrics of this song: "Why do I do the things I don't wanna do/I don't wanna do/When all they do is hurt me?" These words have stuck with me for a while because I find them to be the true definition of "being honest with God," an act of humility that Ed vigorously stresses the importance of. I have discovered that asking myself those questions when I run from God is a never-ending cycle because simply put, I don't have the answers. However, the desperation leads me back to Him as I find that although the fog may be comfortable in the moment, its suffocating effect multiplies over time.
Similar to my take on the song, Franni Rae Cash Cain, vocalist of We the Kingdom, says the tune feels like "a release to be honest about what's going on in my life." There's a freedom in processing those thoughts out loud, one she has found by leading this song. Isolation is a fear-driven tactic that the enemy loves to employ time and time again, but coming before God with our walls down is an effective way to combat those lies. Despite the contagious truth of this melody, it has a specific meaning, one the band is careful not to exaggerate.
As Ed reminds listeners, just like a scripture should never be taken out of context, neither should a song. Melodies don't have to be perfect, lyrics don't have to be pretty, and he says "the story we're trying to tell about the goodness of God is just one snapshot of the life we live as Christians." I appreciate the band's candour in the discussion of this song because it's true that we are often at war with ourselves. Desires of the flesh are the ultimate contrast to God's will for our lives and that paradox is the field on which the battle for our mind takes place. It is important to remember the freedom that accompanies honesty when we feel caught in the undertow.
"Don't Tread on Me"
The thing about fog is that its disorienting presence is consuming all around. Unlike its lighthearted counterpart of mist, there is no seeing through the density of the former's thick gloom. My eyes can only open so wide before the water starts to drip down my eyelashes and into my range of vision. When this comes at you from all sides, hope seems lost. The challenge of merely figuring out where to begin fighting is exhausting. Battling alone is impossible. For these reasons, among others, I'm not the one in charge of the Earth. That position belongs to my Heavenly Father who deserves all the glory, even though He grants me the authority to take out my enemies.
I had a limited perspective on the song, "Don't Tread on Me" for a while, seeing it only as a battle cry, as a pep talk by a general before their soldiers go into battle. This is exactly what Scott says the song is not. Although it is essential to recognize our power in Jesus, that force tends to quickly travel to our heads. Almost immediately after we are granted authority to chase out the evil from our lives, do we begin to think the control stems from us.
The band quotes Luke 10:18-20 when discussing the difference in perspectives here. The excerpt begins with a description of the power given to God's people. In verse 20 though, we are quickly reminded, "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Why is that addition tacked on after such a victorious declaration? I believe God understood the hearts of His people and foresaw our forgetful nature.
His power matters with daily battles. Taking authority consistently plays a huge role in my plan to make it through the day. I think Martin phrases it best: God is telling us that "contrary to popular belief, the revelation is not that you have power and authority over sin, although you do. The greater takeaway is you have the inheritance of Christ passed on to you and you will one day live forever." Let us recognize the bigger message here. The only reason I am on top of sin is that someone else paid the price. No weapon against me shall prosper, as stated in Isaiah 54:7. Many of us live by that mantra, but have you ever stopped to think about the reason why it's true? Or more accurately, who made it true?
"No Doubt About It"
It is eternally accurate that there is peace in God's presence, but what happens when we can't feel it? What are we supposed to do in the middle of the fog, when it's still thick all around and the finish line is out of sight? That's where faith is most heartily applied in my life. It's when God asks us to trust that He is holding our hand and leading us through that blinding mess. Trusting in the unknown has developed into my definition of confidence because I realized that even when I feel inadequate and insecure, there is always proof of my strength in Jesus. Never once has He ever left me. Rather, He walks me through the struggle, by my side until the very end.
Andrew Bergthold, guitarist and vocalist for We the Kingdom, reflects on the message shared by "No Doubt About It." He says "there are two kinds of looking back." You may have already guessed, "one is in celebration and one is in distraction." The progress of others around you does not diminish how far you've come. As Christians, we have an end goal, as Franni so beautifully describes, it is the day "when we finally get to be in heaven with Jesus, completely whole." That place of reflection is where this redemptive lyric was birthed: "I'm not yet where I'm going/But I'm a long way from where I was."
It's difficult to judge how far you've come when you're still in between and as Andrew explains, "the middle ground is always the least comfortable." It can quickly become a place of uncertainty if we forget that the journey is "going from the heaviness to the promise" and it's not an instant change. In those uneasy situations, I find peace in the reflection on my past. Andrew sums it up perfectly, "a mountain still looks like a mountain off in the distance, even if you're halfway there." You may feel like all hope is lost, like all the work you are putting into your healing has no tangible output. But just take a look around. You've made progress, I'm sure of it. Even if it's only a step, that's one step closer to the top of your mountain.
Selena Schulz is NRT’s youngest staff contributor. She loves God, music, reading, and writing.
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