Passion: White Flag

An event/conference in America that I have been eyeing up with "Christian Conference Covetousness" is the "Passion" student conferences. Founded and masterminded by Louie Giglio, its been a combination of huge numbers, great teachers - like Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan and Beth Moore - and great worship leaders too. Every year the talks, sounds and vibe comes out on the internet and makes me more and more excited that such a conference exists.

This year was no exception.


I loved the talks, particularly by John Piper, and was encouraged and excited that Passion 2012 was the place that launched/recorded a song for the express purpose of fighting modern day slavery and people trafficking - Twenty Seven Million. A serious amount of money was raised by the conference attendees - predominantly college students - for the cause as well.

Thus today I want to review and highlight this years Passion Album: White Flag.


This, in general terms, is a superb live worship album, with a great mix of contemporary worship songs from a variety of artists and contexts. It's well produced, snazzily packaged, and in my mind is a solid effort, showcasing what can be the good of contemporary worship music. Its very much the style I like - U2-style guitar, passionate singing, and lots of drums and bass rythms. I'm no musician - I'm a simple chap - but this album really nailed it for me in lots of ways. 


I loved hearing a new, and for the most part excellent arrangements, of songs I've grown to love recently. "One Thing Remains" is a song I've come into contact with at church over the last few months - and I love it. The version on this album is superb. You get a real sense of the crowd behind the worship - and the photograph above gives you an idea of the scale. The words, in my opinion, are superb. They sit comfortably with biblical truth, and there is a strong and resonant echo of 1 Corinthians 13. 


A song that has made big inroads in the UK is Matt Redman's "10,000 Reasons", often called "Bless the Lord Oh My Soul". Blending contemporary music with solid biblical truth and echoes of old hymns is something I've always loved - and this arrangement nails it, in my opinion. The thumping bass backs up the vocals, and its at once a joyful and thoughtful song - with a happy verse and a melancholic, thoughtful verse. I love the song, and this is a great arrangement.


Regarding new songs, or at least songs new to my Christian music radar, there are a couple here that stood out for me big time. I loved "Jesus Son of God" - which used the imagery of true worship well. I loved the line "on the altar of our praise, let there be no higher name, Jesus Son of God" - this should be utterly the desire of our lives as Christians. Musically, I really enjoyed and appreciated the dual vocals - male and female - that answered each other before blending. Great stuff. The wonderful love of God expressed in the supremacy and gift of Christ is superbly expressed in this song, I am haunted in a good way by the line; 

"a love like this the world had never known"

For me, though, the best song on this album, was actually the eponymous title track "White Flag". It is superb. Its not about us - as all worship is about God - and this song emphasises it. I loved it. Check out the lyrics here. It's a radical, unexpected song. It's about surrendering to God - specifically in the battle over our 'rebel hearts'. I loved the joy of this surrender - its a dangerous, radical thing to do, to surrender everything to Jesus - but it is the best possible thing to do with one's life. This is emphasised in a central part of the refrain, and closing repeat; "We lift the Cross, lift it high, lift it high". The Cross is the symbol of love - leading to Jesus' glorious resurrection. This song emphasises the reality of the radical beauty of the Christian Gospel, and nails something utterly true:

"your love has come, your love has won"

Thats what Jesus did.

Thats what worship is for celebrating. 

Thats what I see, and am encouraged by, the Passion conferences celebrating.

And then giving, going out, enabling the advance of God's kingdom in a myriad of ways represented by the delegates, and through the headline cause of the 27 Million Campaign.

I loved this album. Its on Spotify and iTunes - and I've been avidly listening to it for the past few days. Thoroughly recommend it.

I've reviewed a couple of Christian worship albums before - Trent's "Burn Bright", Cornerstone Church Nottingham's superb "Ep Vol. 1", Vineyard Records "My Soul Yearns" and Worship Central's "Spirit Break Out". Check them all out - I'm a particular fan at the moment of My Soul Yearns, especially the BRILLIANT song "The Lamb Has Conquered".

Link to other album reviews