Whiteheart Retrospective – Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come

For now, Christians live in a great theological tension: we already possess every spiritual blessing in Christ, but we do not experience the fullness of these blessings yet. In one sense, we are already adopted, redeemed, sanctified, and saved; in another, these experiences are not yet fully ours. Underneath this theological and practical tension are the two comings of Christ. In his first coming, he inaugurated the last days; in his second coming, he will complete them. In the meantime, we live for now in “the overlap of the ages.” – David Briones

Whiteheart – Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come Theology

I’m sorry this one took so long. I had originally envisioned this series to culminate with a deep exploration of the Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come theme that runs through so much of Whiteheart’s music. Then I published the penultimate article on September 12th of last year and the wheels stopped spinning. And to be perfectly candid, I’m not sure why. I’ve been thinking about this topic for years. But as the time drew closer to actually put pen to paper and releasing it to the world, I realized my thoughts about this topic were underdeveloped and simply not ready to share.

Even now, I’m feeling thoroughly overwhelmed with doing this topic justice. I will probably look back on this with a lot of regret for dropping the ball so spectacularly, but in the words of Bilbo Baggins, “I’ve put this off for far too long.” So, here goes.

Before diving into the deep end, I feel like it is important for me to explain my operating supposition. As I begin this examination of the songs and lyrics of Whiteheart, I want to be clear about a few things. First, I don’t recall the band ever discussing a purposeful engagement with the idea of Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come. If they did, I have missed it in my research. Second, very few of the songs I will be looking at are explicit in their interaction with this theme. In fact, I am sure that I will be accused by some to be reading into things. I’ll let you each decide.

My contention is pretty simple and straightforward: when I listen to the music of Whiteheart, this theological framework seems rather clear. If it was unintentional on their part, I can only chalk that up to divine influence either on them or on myself as I listen. Finally, while I’m sure there were other artists who explored this topic, I have never found another band or artists whose music has touched on this truth as often or as powerfully as Whiteheart.

In 1987, Whiteheart released Emergency Broadcast. It was the highly anticipated follow up to their breakthrough album, Don’t Wait for the Movie. I won’t rehash everything I said about those two albums here. If you want to read those thoughts, follow the links above. The closing song on Emergency Broadcast was the ballad, “Edge of a Dream.” Sung by Mark Gersmehl, the song is an early peek into a theme the band would come back to many times over the next 10 years. I’ve lovingly dubbed it Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come theology. (That is not an original phrase or idea – but I don’t recall seeing it applied to the music of Whiteheart by anyone else.)

When I first heard this song, I was probably in my early teens, at most. I was 9 or 10 years old when the album came out, but I wasn’t able to get my hands on it for some time, as I was living overseas. So, anywhere between 10 and 13, most likely. At that time, I liked the 80’s soaked sounds of the song. It felt like it could have appeared on any John Hughes’ movie of that era. As a very young listener, the lyrics took a backseat to the music, so I paid less attention to what the song was saying than how it was saying it.

Over time, the words of the song started to really settle in my heart. Here was a band, that as far as I could tell, had a very similar worldview and belief system as me, but this song seemed to have a deeper and wider view of salvation than I had fully embraced. With lessons on heaven, hell, eternity, and all the rest, God’s plan of salvation could sometimes look more like “fire insurance” to young believers and less like the establishing of God’s Kingdom earth in the here and now.

There were many songs, good songs, that dealt with looking ahead to heaven, to when we could throw off the shackles of this fallen world. “I’ll Fly Away” – wonky theology and all – “When We All Get to Heaven”, and “In the Sweet By and By” are all classics that point to our final sanctification and the ultimate reunion with the Saints and our Lord.

There were virtually no songs that embraced the idea that salvation is, in many ways, intended to bring heaven to earth. “Edge of a Dream” was a rare exception. Our redemption is “like a window looking out into eternity.” This bond we share in Christ should draw us closer to each other and should spur us on to share this life-changing reality with the world.

“Edge of a Dream”

Our hearts surge with feeling cause we agree
How the Spirit fills this moment
Holding us together in a bond of love
Such a mystery
Like a window looking out into eternity

“Edge of a Dream” was an early toe poke into these waters. It was hinting at a fuller expression that would come later, and it set the stage for a topic the band would develop more fully in the future. One could argue the band had hinted at this theme even earlier, with songs like “Everyday”, “We are His Hands”, and “Following the King”. All pointed towards the idea that Kingdom-centered Christianity has everything to do with how it changes us in the present, and how that faith should change the world around us. “Edge of a Dream” asserted this bond of love, these gifts of the Spirit, belong to us now but will be more fully ours in eternity.

“Edge of the Dream” served as the opening of the floodgates for the band, as they were to return to this theme repeatedly throughout the remainder of their career. In 1989, Whiteheart released what many people consider to be the greatest Christian rock album of all time. Freedom was a masterpiece in every way; musically and lyrically. It is a work of profound artistry and talent, coupled with intense passion and dedication.

On the title track of this landmark album, Whiteheart calls us to sing our freedom. To “let the song of (our) faith come alive.” This song of faith is a profession of the eternity that has been placed in our hearts. It’s a supernatural link between the “Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” and the “Lamb who is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

In Whiteheart’s framing, this “song of freedom” is our fullest expression of faith and hope. It’s an acknowledgement that we are tied into something greater than ourselves. Something established by the hand of our Savior. The Kingdom is here and now.

“Sing Your Freedom”

Like a cool wind that flows
From a valley unseen
Out of the depths of a trembling heart
You find yourself starting to sing

Listen to your own words
It's the power of what you believe
Let the chorus build louder and louder
And shatter the blackness and pain
Let it rise like a healing flame

On the very next track, Whiteheart doubles down on this belief. “Let the Kingdom Come” is a cry to align our lives with God’s Kingdom – not simply for future reward but for the fullest and most fulfilling expression of our faith. When we choose to live outside the boundaries of the Kingdom, we are left “so tired and weary” with the “back breaking burden of our crown.” We should echo the cry of Whiteheart and sing for the King of Glory to enter in.

“Let the Kingdom Come”

King of Glory, enter in
And sear my heart with love's burning flame
Oh, let Your will be done
O Lord, let the Kingdom come

Perhaps the greatest moment in this seminal album is the song “The River Will Flow”, a powerful declaration about the beauty, joy, and hope we have in the here and now, even in the midst of pain and sorrow. The river is our connection to the Kingdom that is ever present. As important as our view of eternity is, we risk losing the fullest expression of our faith if we fail to immerse ourselves in the love and peace that is freely offered to us as citizens of this Kingdom of God. Our lives as the redeemed should be centered on building the Kingdom here on earth, and less about losing ourselves in the promises of what is to come.

“The River Will Flow”

And the river will flow
The river will flow
Through all of the times of your life
The river will flow
Oh, and the river is love
The river is peace
And the river will flow through the hearts
Of those who believe

The band’s 1990 album, Powerhouse, continued this thematic exploration. In place of songs with specific and direct exhortations, Whiteheart opted to take a bigger picture approach. Kingdom living is not about checking off boxes, dotting the I’s, or crossing the T’s. “A Love Calling” walks us through this paradigm shift. Once we are grafted into the vine, our goals, desires, and mission should be centered on His will. His love propels us to love others.

“A Love Calling”

Ah, there's a new wind blowing since we've been given this call
When your spirit's leading, oh, it doesn't feel like a burden at all
There are still lands locked in darkness
There are hearts like an empty room
And we'll never know how to help them until, Father, we listen to You

We've got a love calling, a love calling
Oh, we've got a love calling 'cause we hear love calling

Whiteheart follows up that “love calling” with an urgent admonishment to “Answer the Call”. To be part of the Kingdom of God means more than rule following, do’s and don’ts. It’s about missional, purpose-driven action. We are transformed by the grace and love of Christ so we can transform the world around us.

“Answer the Call”

Got a knock upon the door
It's getting loud, you can't ignore
A voice is calling your name
Don't you live in the status quo
Don't you go where you always go
It's crying out for change
Answer the call, answer the call

Whiteheart closed out the album with one of their best ballads, “Lay it Down”. In an album full of passionate cries about surrendering to God’s Kingdom, they chose to make the final plea a thing of gentle beauty. It’s not our job to build the Kingdom in our own strength. All we need to do is to tap into the river of life that has been freely given to us. The Kingdom is here. We just need to lay down our pain, guilt, shame, and pride and join the Great work Jesus is already doing.

So kneel by the healing stream
Let His love keep flowing, flowing
Let it wash you clean
Let it wash you clean

And lay it down
Oh, lay it down
Come lay it down
Oh, lay it down
Lay it down
Come to the kingdom

Whiteheart released Tales of Wonder in 1992 to much acclaim. It was a confident and assured work by a band operating at the top of their game. And again, the band filled the album with inferences to the Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come. From missional declarations like “His Heart Was Always in It”, “Where the Thunder Roars” and “Vendetta”, to more pointed observations about where our loyalties truly lie as found in “Who Owns You”, the band had a clear focus and direction.

Track three, “Unchain”, is directed towards Christians who have allowed themselves to be tied down by the worries and cares of this life. Believers who have lost the vision of the Kingdom. “Unchain” is an earnest prayer to rediscover the joy and the love we can find if we align ourselves with God’s vision for humanity.

“Unchain”

No storybook there's no guarantee
Still a voice of love is calling you and me
Unchain me from this poverty, release my soul

Unchain my life
Let the doubt and the darkness fall from my eyes
Unchain my dreams
Let the heavens of love open up in me

While the following track is not as focused on Kingdom work, “Say the Word” might be the most powerful reminder in all of Whiteheart’s music of the source of our connectedness to the Kingdom. In every moment, every high and low, every joy and heartbreak, we should turn to the Word of God to be a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path”.

“Say the Word”

For every Word He sends us
Holds the power to save us
It's His love raining down
Raining down from the sky
Say the Word
Say the Word
Say the Word

Hear Him saying
"Come all you weary
And I'll give you rest
I'll never leave you desolate
I'm the Light of the world
Come follow me
I'm the Way and the Life
And My truth will set you free"

Tales of Wonder closes with one of the most euphoric and transcendent moments in Whiteheart’s catalog. “Light a Candle” is an epic, emotion drenched anthem. The song builds and builds until you can feel yourself breathless for the explosive conclusion. What better imagery for Kingdom work than a flame? This flame is rising up in us and if we are to take part in the building and advancing of the Kingdom, we must share this light with others.

“Light a Candle”

There's a surge of hope within your heart
And you want to play a bigger part
For you heard the word that Jesus said
You want to turn the world upon its head
Now you lift your hands up high into the sky
Light a candle

The city of faith cannot be hid
Let the fire burn on the holy wind
So if you want to change the world
And be a living flame
Light a candle

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A Brief Aside in Defense of Whiteheart’s Songwriting Philosophy

If you are still reading at this point, that means you are in it for the long haul, and I can address something that has bothered me for some time. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, it was not uncommon to hear Christian rock fans make fun of or to look askance at bands like Whiteheart, DeGarmo and Key, Geoff Moore and the Distance and others in this vein. Fans of the more indie or alternative bands like The Choir, Daniel Amos, Adam Again would sometimes belittle the lyrical content in the aforementioned band’s for being too preachy, pandering, or positive. The critics would decry the lack of real-world substance.

To some extent, I can understand this criticism, though I do feel some went too far. And to be even more specific, I feel Whiteheart, particularly during their peak years of 1989-1997, was unfairly lumped in with other bands. Yes, Whiteheart focused on more overtly spiritual issues, and they rarely sang about marriage, relationships, or things of that nature. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t deal with struggles, pain, suffering, or moments of doubt. Those sorts of things are found throughout their music, it’s just that they didn’t stagnate in the muck and mire. They chose to see the providence of God, and His many promises as blessings to be confidently taken by every believer.

Whiteheart believed the Kingdom was here, now. It was established by Jesus and believers must choose to live in that reality or face a world of broken dreams and lack of purpose. Singing confidently about this didn’t make them less than or “pie in the sky” gaslighters. From my perspective, their view aligns quite nicely with what we read in the Bible about the life of believers. Yes, we will struggle, we will grieve, and we will have difficulties in life. But we are promised victory, peace, hope, and strength to carry on. That is what Whiteheart chose to focus on and I’m forever grateful they did.

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Whiteheart’s 1993 album, Highlands, is where this focus on the Kingdom Now, Kingdom Still to Come is fully realized. This entire album feels saturated with the language of Kingdom living. From the opening tone setter, “You Can See the World”, with its laser focus on seeing the world through God’s elevated eyes, to the call for excellence in every facet of our lives (Kingdom living demands nothing less) in “Nothing but the Best”, the band left nothing on the table.

As I’ve discussed in detail already, Whiteheart was adamant about exploring this theology in their music, but it all came to a head on the 3rd track on Highlands. “Heaven of My Heart” is the beating heart of the band, distilled into 6 minutes and 11 seconds of anthemic arena rock goodness. Lyrically, it was their most overt foray into the Kingdom mindset. In no uncertain terms, Whiteheart declared that yes, heaven is real and waiting for us, but we have access to so much more than we can dream in the “overlap of the ages”.

“Heaven of My Heart”

Locked in a sky so blue
Is a land made for me and you
And we're going there
But until the dream comes true
There's a secret place
So full of love and grace
When the world spins and breaks apart
I'm going to the other heaven of my heart

So let this love unfold
Come walk on these streets of gold
In this heaven of our hearts

The band continued to push this reality in track after track on Highlands. “The Cry” is a clarion call for surrender to the Kingdom. “Highland of Love” is a restatement of what they’ve spent years singing about, but with more specificity than ever before.

“Highland of Love”

Now don't you see it's all been changed
Nothing can stay the same
I've taken the holy name of the one who
Sets me free

Now anger must turn to love
The bird of prey becomes the dove
That's the world I am dreaming of
Where the lion and the lamb can live
Together once again

Whiteheart wisely closes about the album with a song that ties our current reality into the story of the ages and the history of the church. Continuing the imagery of the flame of faith established on their previous album, “The Flame Passes On” is a joyful, triumphant song about faith being passed down from generation to generation even amidst persecution and suffering. The Kingdom is here. Let the Kingdom come.

“The Flame Passes On”

Because of them we know His name
So let's lift the cross, and do the same
Unbroken line of believers building a
Human chain
And the flame passes on, the flame passes on

From the heart of the people comes love for
The people
Love that is burning strong
Oh from one to another
This dream of forever...
The flame passes on
Oh the light of the ages illumines the pages
The words of an ancient song
O faith is the fire that burns ever higher
And the flame passes on 

We’ve finally reached the end. If you have read this far, thank you. I realize it’s a lot to ask of anyone, so I am very grateful to any who decided to wade these waters with me.

Whiteheart released their final album in 1997. Titled, Redemption, the band left no uncertainty about their focus and faith. The album is more subdued than many in their catalog, with less mountaintop moments than many fans were hoping for. Instead, the album is full of songs dealing with doubts, struggles, conflicts, and even depression. But even in the middle of all this real-world stuff, the band never wavers from the centrality of the Gospel message.

“The Vine” is a perfect example of this. It’s not an upbeat song in the least, and it doesn’t rely on catchy phrases and feel-good imagery to make its point. Instead, it relies on Scripture and honesty. Our way, our kingdom, is a fragile and broken thing. We only experience true peace and hope when we turn things over to God and let Him rule. The Kingdom that is always on the march becomes our sanctuary and salvation.

“The Vine”

I've really been out there
just little me out where
taking the word on all alone
it really is lonely
when you think that it's only you
trying to live all on your own

I'll be the branch
you be the vine
'cause I've been withering away
for some time
now I feel Your healing flowing to my mind
I'll be the branch
You be the vine

The penultimate track on the album, and perhaps my favorite is “Remember This”. It’s a beautiful song about the connections we share as believers. As citizens of the Kingdom. When the world beats us down, when it seeks to destroy our faith, we “gotta remember” who we are. We are children of the King.

“Remember This”

So this is really love
so this is what it means
it's better than I dreamed
have we ever been this close
just feel the Father here
He's holding us together
together, oh...

we gotta remember this
gotta remember this
forever remember
we gotta remember...

Final Thoughts

In the sake of keeping this under 4,000 words, I’ll keep this wrap up brief. I have long been drawn to the music of Whiteheart, not only because I find their style to be exactly what I love most about music, but also because of their Kingdom-minded focus. When I listen to music, I primarily want to be moved. I want to it to stir my heart and soul. Whiteheart does that better than any artists I’ve ever found.

Let us echo their words as we walk the road of faith. The song of freedom is ours, let’s sing it. The river is flowing in our hearts, let’s wash in its healing stream. Let us cry out with one voice, “Oh Lord, let the Kingdom come!” It is here now. Let us join the flame that has been passed down for centuries and light our candles in a dark and lonely world. Let’s fully embrace our calling to be passionate and faithful citizens of the Kingdom, here and now and as we move closer to dream.

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