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| Sanctus Real |
By Scott Osterbind
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The first song on your new album Pieces Of A Real Heart is called “Forgiven.” I appreciate the line, “When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.” Can you share a time that Sanctus Real didn’t measure up,but later found fulfillment in Christ?
As a band, we’ve often felt that we don’t measure up – that someone else would be more suited for this job than we are. 2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “For if willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” God doesn’t use us for what we can’t do – He uses us for what we can. We realized that this struggle of not measuring up is just a form of pride cloaked in insecurity. “Forgiven” was the song that came out of our prayer and repentance.
This seems to be a theme for us – almost as if the Lord keeps bringing us back to this place where we don’t “measure up” to help us realize how much we need Him and how much we should be depending on Him instead of ourselves. We sometimes feel as though we don’t measure up in places that really matter like being husbands, fathers, friends, mentors, etc. We could always use more of God in those areas.
Many of your fans posted stories of forgiveness on your website. Is there a particular story that stands out to you?
There were so many deep and powerful stories on the Forgiven page, sharing just one is hard. There are hundreds we could choose. People shared struggles of abuse, abandonment, infidelity, addiction, and helplessness – there were people forgiving each other over the page, and all of it under the miraculous banner of forgiveness. We read every story, and they all had an overwhelming impact on our purpose and motivation as a band.
One in particular was the joy and freedom one Christian husband found from years of sexual addiction (porn, prostitutes, secrets) that stemmed from abuse. He told his gut-wrenching story of how he had finally confessed everything to his wife. He expressed how he had finally found freedom and forgiveness through exposing his double life. His wife had decided to stay with him, and they were on the path to being restored in Christ! That’s pretty incredible stuff. There were so many more!
One of the most personal songs on the album is “Lead Me.” Matt, do you mind telling the story of what was going on at home that inspired you to write this song?
I’ve been married to Sarah for almost nine years. We have two daughters (Emmy, who is four, and Claire, who is two) and a baby on the way. We’re currently walking through a season of our marriage that’s really special; we’re more connected and committed to growing spiritually together than ever before.
However, a few years ago we were having a difficult time resolving conflict in our relationship. Sarah challenged me to be a stronger spiritual leader in our home. I was really humbled, because I knew that I hadn’t been disciplined in leading her in that way. That afternoon, I prayed and thought, and I wrote the guts of the song “Lead Me” – which I later finished with Chris Rohman and Jason Ingram. That song is the cry of a wife to be led by her husband and the cry of children to be led by their father. It ends with the prayer of a husband/father to be led by God in the great responsibility of building a home on the solid foundation of Christ.
Every Christian husband can run away from God or run to God with our weaknesses. I ran to God, and asked for Him to help me lead my family. That’s what that song is about, a realization that I cannot succeed as a husband or father on my own. I have only one shot, and I need God desperately everyday to “lead me.”
What are some other ministries, besides music, with whom Sanctus Real is involved?
We’re involved with different social groups like TOMS Shoes, The ONE Campaign – which raises money for relief in Africa, and the Mocha Club. The money we raise on tour for the Mocha Club goes directly to building clean water wells in Darfur in the Sudan. They only ask for $7 a month, and it’s amazing how far that small amount goes. In May, we’ll be touring with David Nassar and Mike’s Chair for HOLT International. They have orphanages all over the world. This tour will specifically go to relief efforts in Haiti.
Thousands of youth leaders will have the chance to use your new album in their groups. What is the main message you hope they relay to their students?
When I think of all the different themes touched upon on our new album, one recurring theme is that Christ’ grace is sufficient. If you are a believer in Christ, you are forgiven, accepted, and loved. There is nothing you can do to make God love, accept, or forgive you any more or any less – no matter what you think of yourself or how you see yourself. His grace is sufficient for you. If you need to be a better leader, cry out to Him for more of His grace – for it is sufficient for you. If you feel that you’ve made a mess of your life and that God can’t use you to your full potential, don’t believe that lie. Christ is the Redeemer who can make all things new and can work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. His grace is sufficient in every circumstance. I feel as though almost every song on the record points to this truth in some way or another.
I thank all the youth leaders for their eternal investments in students. We hope that this band can be a great tool for them. We would never want to take their place in ministry because we can’t. We want to partner with them and be another voice for Christ for their youth. We are ambassadors for Him, and we take that seriously.
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