The Cross is the Victory - Some Thoughts on "See a Victory" by Elevation Worship
There’s a popular song that seems to be everywhere right now called See a Victory by Elevation Worship. When I first heard this song, it struck me funny. While turning it over in my mind it finally dawned on me—this song is the prosperity gospel sung. Prosperity doesn’t have to come in the form of only wealth. Sometimes we see it in health. Sometimes we see it in the thought that everything will go right.
Don’t get me wrong, there is truth in this song, but without clear definitions, there is also a lot of confusion in this song. Unless we define seeing the victory as being united with Christ in heaven, then we may not see the victory here on earth. Many have experienced much persecution and suffering for Christ. Many have died for him. The only victory is to be with Christ.
I tried to find the writer’s intent behind the song, but couldn’t locate any explanation. At best I find this song confusing. I’m afraid it may do more harm than good. Especially unhelpful is the verse equating our battles with David and Goliath’s. To say that every battle we face will go that way is the prosperity gospel. In the New Testament, we see Stephen was stoned to death. Sometimes that is how the story ends. Paul faced terrible hardships, beatings, and imprisonments that ultimately resulted in death. If the victory this song is talking about isn’t spending eternity with Christ then we may need to look elsewhere for our definition of victory.
We live in a fallen world that is full of difficulty. We’re all looking for hope. That hope is found in Christ alone. When we follow him as Lord though, we aren’t given a promise that everything will be made right in our life and that every battle will result in what looks like victory to the watching world. We are promised that he will hold us fast. He won’t leave us or forsake us. We’re promised that we will find victory in eternity with our Savior and so we aren’t living for this world, but a better kingdom with Christ.
Given that the song is so popular, I took a stab at revising some of it to make it more theologically accurate. Below I present to you what I’m calling The Cross is the Victory:
The weapon may be formed, but it won’t prosper
When the darkness falls, it won’t prevail
”Cause the cross of Christ achieved the triumph
My God will never fail
Oh, my God will never fail
At the cross we saw the victory
At the cross we saw the victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
Our enemy has been made history
For the battle belongs to you Lord
There’s power in the mighty name of Jesus
Every war He wages He will win
If we appear to lose the battle
Our gain is in eternity with him
Yes, our gain is in eternity with him
At the cross we saw the victory
At the cross we saw the victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
Our enemy has been made history
For the battle belongs to you Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
At the cross we saw the victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
Our enemy has been made history
For the battle belongs to you Lord
Gonna pray for strength in this battle
Gonna pray for strength, hey
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
At the cross we saw the victory
At the cross we saw the victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
Our enemy has been made history
For the battle belongs to you Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
At the cross we saw the victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
At the cross we saw the victory
Our enemy has been made history
For the battle belongs to you Lord
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
Who is like our God?
The enemy meant the cross for evil
But you meant it for good
You meant it for good
