The disbanded Christian contemporary band The City Harmonic made quite an impact on worship music with their standout anthems "Mountaintop," "Holy (Wedding Day)," "A City on a Hill," and "Praise the Lord." The Canadian band announced their plans to close that chapter of their lives in 2017.
Now, The City Harmonic founder Elias Dummer continues his music career solo giving listeners several creative and biblically-based expressions with “Enough,” “Expectation,” and “See Clearly.” I had the chance to speak with Elias Dummer about his single, “Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need),” a track that also features Zach Bolen, the frontman for contemporary band Citizens.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
"Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need)" was largely inspired by circumstances surrounding the demise of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, where Zach Bolen formerly served as a worship leader. The song also holds personal meaning for me, following a relatable experience in my own life.
Zach and I noticed how similar our experiences were—even though they were so different in scale. In the months since writing this song, the release of the podcast ‘The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill’ has led many to ask crucial questions about our relationship between leadership and healthy spirituality. Frankly, too many have been hurt in similar ways.
"Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need)" is a song of confession and self-reflection upon years of participating in Christian communities that exalted one or a few people to the detriment of the whole community. Those elevated leaders eventually failed me and many others. But I also enabled and helped perpetuate a culture that deifies and expects things of people that only Jesus can do.
What Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
2 Corinthians 12:9(NKJV): "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 5:16-19(NIV): "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
Philippians 2:14-16(NIV): "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."
Amos 5:24(NIV): "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"
What is the takeaway message?
Just over 10 years ago, it became clear that a pastor, friend, and mentor to me had been living a lie and had betrayed the people closest to him. This was a small group of believers from a small church. There were no TV cameras, no live-streamed services, and no podcasts to tell this story.
But we knew what it was like to look at something which once made sense and instead see broken relationships, hurt, and confusion. I’ve clung to a quote that the same leader has said in the years since, a paraphrase from the Apostle Paul: “Don’t follow me; follow me as I follow Christ.” Today, I’m grateful for that advice. I don’t know where I’d be had he held himself up as an icon.
Lyrics
I held them up they let me down Don’t hold me up I’ll do the same thing All it takes is to look around To see that they’re broken To see that I’m broken Underneath it all what we really want A prophet to teach it A shepherd to lead it A king to believe in But isn’t that Jesus?
Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy)
Mercy What I need is mercy But what I want is mostly, mercy for me Justice, yeah, we all we want justice But is it really justice if it doesn’t cost us Do I love mercy enough to bleed? Will I do justly when it ain't free?
I could walk humbly, weak on my feet With Christ as my king, his mercy through me Kyrie Eleison Lord Have Mercy
Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy)
Mercy mercy mercy for the sinner in me Mercy mercy mercy for my friends and enemies Mercy mercy mercy through my hands and through my feet Lord have mercy cause it’s mercy we need
Closing Thoughts
Many times, we keep our faith to ourselves or maybe we just talk about the love of Jesus with fellow Christians. If the spirit of love is a basic element in the Christian faith, then the expression of love is an integral part of faith.
This expression of love constitutes faith in action. It's important as believers that others around us see the light of Jesus reflected in our lives: in our words, actions, behaviors, and even our thoughts. James 2:17 (NIV) says, "Thus also, faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead.”
Perhaps we can all practice letting our light shine so that others may praise our Father in heaven." This song is about realizing that if our eyes are open to the needs of others around us and if we serve others and care about people more than think about ourselves and our doubts, then we can start to live out the Beatitudes.
As Christians, we're called to speak out about injustice. We often mistake staying quiet about issues as turning the other cheek. The truth is that Jesus flipped over the tables in the temple when He saw injustice. In Micah 6:8 (NKJV), we’re told, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Look at injustice in the world through God's eyes, and you can't help but be moved to act. As Elias and I discussed, whatever cause you support, be passionate about it and speak about it consistently.
Ask yourself if you're losing sight of God's purpose for you. Don't give up on worthy causes; they are not fads. Jesus commands us to love others as He loved us and to show His love by helping people who can't help themselves.
"Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need)" reminds us to be more intentional about everything we do. The Amos 5 passage in scripture urges us to "let justice roll" from our lives, to keep our eyes open to the needs of others. I immediately connected with the message of this song as my life verse is Isaiah 6:8 (NLT): “Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?’ I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’”
Worship is a heart condition and an emotional connection to the words that we lift to God. Our worship is an offering, but God is the one who made the way for us to be with Him. God wants to hear from you. He wants us to boldly approach the throne of mercy and grace to receive what we need from Him. We were dead in our sins, and, by grace, we were saved and made alive in Christ.
We need to live as children of God. Believing the words of "Kyrie Eleison (It’s Mercy We Need)" is a great way to work on the disciplines of self-examination and prayer. It takes a while to get quiet in our culture.
Unplug, and go deeper with Jesus. I'm completely convicted by the prayerful lyrics and find immense comfort in this song. Join in and sing, “Will I do justly when it ain’t free? I could walk humbly, weak on my feet/With Christ as my king, His mercy through me.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time fan of Christian music, an avid music collector, and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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