Plowing through the fields of the music industry, Rend Collective is changing the way we view family. Not only are they writing and releasing stellar worship music, but they are setting a standard for family that points towards a greater purpose of unity, respect, and love within the church. Their belief in the power of a unified body of believers is evident in their music. In their song, “Build Your Kingdom Here,” they sing, “Build your kingdom here! Let the darkness fear. Show your mighty hand! Heal our streets and land. Set your church on fire! Win this nation back. Change the atmosphere! Build your kingdom here, we pray!”
Rend Collective sees their purpose as a band as more than just releasing good music and hosting fun concerts. They are after the heart of God with a desire to bring others close to Him. They believe that we should celebrate in the joy that we have in Christ and seek to break the walls of pain, shame, and regret with the healing power of His love!
In an article written by Matt Damico in Relevant Magazine, the band’s founder discusses their newest album, As Family We Go, and their purpose as a band. Gareth Gilkeson, founder, told Damico that, “As Christians, we’re called to be not just in our subculture; we’re called to be affecting the culture.” Rend Collective is taking their influence a step further in their endeavor to change peoples’ view of God by carrying His presence into every environment they enter. Gilkeson also said, “It’s not so Rend Collective can get a big name; I just love being part of the heartbeat of God. The call of the Gospel is to go, and we want to be all-encompassing to all societies, all colors, all backgrounds, all tribes.”
Rend Collective is reflecting the heart of God in every area of their craft and ministry. The church can learn a lot from their perspective on family. Often, people have a view of the church as a hostile, hypocritical group. However, Rend Collective wants to not only break that reputation of the church, but to restore our beliefs in the Body of Christ and the original purpose of family. Band member, Chris Llewellyn, said, “We aren’t really so much of a band as we are a family. People are more important than music, art or apparent success.”
In Ephesians 2:19, Paul writes, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” The church needs to be reminded that our purpose is not to train up religious robots, but to seek to build authentic community and bring His Kingdom here. We need to start viewing each other as family rather than just people who go to the same church services. Let’s stop excluding ourselves from the world, and seek to grow our family by celebrating in the life-changing joy that is only found in Christ.
