A while back, I posted a “ReDiscover” entry about one of my favorite artists, Jon Foreman. Since then, I’ve listened to his “seasonal” EPs (“Fall”, “Winter”, “Spring”, and “Summer”) quite a lot. That’s why it took me by complete surprise when I noticed a song from the Winter EP for the first time the other day. I’ve become a big fan of the song “Somebody’s Baby”.

Even at face value, “Somebody’s Baby” is an emotional piece. Foreman, as always, weaves his lyrics and music together masterfully in this tale of a homeless woman’s struggles. It puts the dark, dirty reality of our world right out in the open before us, the Church, and should remind us of our mission in this world. We are not commissioned to simply tell others about Jesus and reject and judge those who fall short of our standard. Talking a good line doesn’t change the world.

“Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this:

Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight,

and guard against corruption from the godless world.”

James 1:27, “The Message” Bible

Beyond that, the chorus speaks a profound word about a person’s worth. No matter who you are, what you do, where you come from, what you’ve been through, or who has written you off; God still loves you. When not one soul on Earth cares for you, God does. This unconditional love for the lost world should be and must be the heart of the Church. Christ-like compassion operates independent of blame and in perfect unity with unending grace.

Listen to Jon Foreman’s “Somebody’s Baby” below

and let your heart be prepared by God to do His will.

Cultivate true religion in your life… Care.