People have been asking us for a few months what our #1 all-time Christian music CD to recommend to new believers would be. Granted, there are as many opinions on this issue as there are Christian music fans. There are many great bands with life-changing CDís that didnít even make this Top Ten list and their efforts are not to be minimized, but to us, there is a CD that stands head and shoulders above all others: the debut CD by Atlanta-based Casting Crowns.

This CD is so rich with awesome songs and concise, life-altering lyrics that we almost want to ask folks, ìHow did you not know that this was the top pick?î

The opening lyrics of the very first song ìWhat if His People Prayedî smack you right in the face:

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more?

Are the lyrics too intense for the new believer? It certainly is an evangelism call to arms for us who are already enlisted in Godís army. The song later continues:

What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do?

Now that speaks to all of us, even Oprah herself. The next song ìIf We Are the Bodyî speaks to believers but about those stepping foot in a church for the first time in a while. Maybe ever. The chorus goes:

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way

It certainly reminds us of our role as guardians of the faith but also lets new believers know that churches are imperfect and to not turn away from the Lord based on a bad experience with a member of the Body.

ìVoice of Truthî was a hit just recently, two years after the CDís release, and ìWho Am Iî was the first hit song from the album. After nearly two years of hearing ìWho Am Iî, I am still stunned by the magnificence of these lyrics:

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star

Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Not only does it welcome new believers into the arms of Christ but it teaches the truth about why He came. Those lyrics are probably the best ever lyrics in Christian music. The list of great songs continues: ìHere I Go Againî reminds us of chances missed to talk about God with your closest friends; ìAmerican Dreamî reminds us of whatís truly important; ìPraise You With the Danceî reminds us of the bodily joy we should always have with a kick in our step and joy in our hearts. The thereís my favorite song on the CD: ìGloryî. Perhaps the strongest, driving song musically, it has you singing ìAlle, Alleluiaî over and over.


All but the last song on the CD, the beautiful ballad ìYour Love is Extravagantî were penned by lead singer and youth pastor Mark Hall and all have direct Scriptural references. The music is polished and sharp with ample guitars, keyboards and even violin. Casting Crowns reminds you of the church praise band who got a break and made one, then two, then three and finally 10 God-inspired songs, got a record contract but still come back to their home church to sing. Thatís exactly what Casting Crowns, the band, still does.


Their second CD ìLifesongî is due out on August 30th. I almost feel sad for the band. How can you match the best evangelism CD of all-time? Weíll just have to find out, but hereís one thing we do know: if you give this CD to a friend in need of Jesus Christ, He will work wonders through Casting Crownsí music in this debut CD. Thatís what this list has been all about.