Casting Crowns "The Altar and the Door" Matthew 13:20-21

Chuck Spangler

Grace Memorial Parishioner and former Youth Christian Formation Teacher

“The Altar and the Door”
Artist: Casting Crowns
​Album: The Altar and the Door

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 
Matthew 13:20-21

Casting Crowns was established in 1999 under the direction of Mark Hall (lead singer and primary
songwriter). 13 million of their 9 albums have been sold…6 of have gone platinum. They have received 15 Dove Awards, 1 Grammy, 2 American Music Academy (AMA) and 2 Billboard Music awards for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist”.
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Casting Crowns’ music was a frequent subject of Grace Memorial’s Christian Formation group, as a result we travelled to 2 Casting Crowns concerts (Lafayette-April 20, 2017 and at the Smoothie King Center in November, 2019). The “YouTube intro” below gives insight to the message of “The Altar and the Door”.

"The Altar and the Door" Lyrics:
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Careless…I am reckless. I’m a wrong way traveling slowly unraveling shell of a man.
Burned out… I’m so numb now.
Let the fires just an ember way down in the corner of my old cold heart.
Lord this time I make it right here at the altar I lay my life.
Your kingdom come, but my will was done, my heart is broken.
As I cry like so many time before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor.
Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through
Between the altar and the door.

Here at the altar oh my world so black and white…
how could I ever falter what You’ve shown me to be right.
Lord this time I’ll make it right, here at the altar I’ll lay it my life.
Your kingdom come, but my will was done, my heart is broken.
As I cry like so many time before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor.
Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through
Between the altar and the door.

I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard.
Just let You be who You are…Lord who You are in me.
Jesus I’m trying so hard to stop trying so hard.
Just let You be who You are…Lord who You are in me.
Oh Lord I cried like so many times before…but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor.
Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through
Between the altar and the door.

Like so many times before… but my eyes are dry before I leave the floor.
Oh Lord I tried but this time Jesus how can I be sure I would not loose my follow through
Between the altar and the door.

…Like so many times before…

Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.