The Ellen Show isn’t exactly a place you’d expect to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
But God has a way of shining His light in the darkest of places.
So, when Christian musician Lauren Daigle was recently invited to perform on Ellen’s show she brought the place to its feet singing praises to God.
She chose to perform her hit song “Still Rolling Stones” through which the Gospel message of God’s power of salvation was proclaimed in bold and beautiful melody.
Christ-followers and non-believers alike were enthralled with her stage presence and unique message of hope.
At the end of the Ellen DeGeneres Show on October 24th, Ellen blessed every member of the live audience with a copy of Lauren’s new album.
Ellen also wanted everyone watching to recognize a greater gift and power they had just received, charging everyone with this closing statement: “Take the same great feeling of joy and acceptance you felt here today out into the world with you.”
Lauren’s willingness to cross boundaries, bringing a message of Light where many Christians claim only darkness dwells, caused something more radical than a simple stir on both Christian and non-Christian radars.
The rising Christian artist’s song choice “Still Rolling Stones” is from her newest album Look Up Child, which was released in September of this year.
The album is taking both Christian and non-Christian music sectors by storm.
Just shortly after release, Look Up Child took the top spot in the Top Christian Albums chart.
Even more miraculous, it took third place on the Billboard 200, a ranking of the best album sales in the entire U.S. per week, in third place, only following Paul McCartney’s Egypt Station at No. 1, and Eminem’s Kamikaze.
Lauren’s album is also making such a triumphant noise across music ranking charts because it’s the biggest splash in traditional album sales for Christian music in at least nine years, and from a Christian woman artist in over twenty years.
Lyrics from the song Lauren performed, “Still Rolling Stones“, make man’s responsibility of responding to the message of salvation clear:
“I once was blinded
But now I see it
I heard about the power
And now I believe it.”
Additionally, the chorus places emphasis on the current, real power of God’s plan for our restoration:
“All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
You’re still rolling stones.”
The last line directly referenced Jesus’ resurrection when the tomb stone was rolled away, as well as His power represented in miracles such as Lazarus’ resurrection.
In both cases, Lauren presents hearers with strong visuals to understand the power of God over death — a thing many people live in fear of.
“Still Rolling Stones” was a unique choice not just for the proclamation of salvation by a Savior, but the beautiful vulnerability of the breakdown section in which Lauren reaches out through the harmonies with hope for everyone who would simply turn to Jesus.
Her lines explain how even when we feel we’ve gone too far, and in the midst of digging our own graves by our own sinful doings, God is the One who calls us.
He is the one who desires our hearts turn, and His power is strong enough to take on all spirits which will turn in repentance and confess that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
Now, we know there are always going to be opposing forces to our life when we follow Jesus.
Most often we expect these to come from openly God-hating people, but often the people around us may become uncomfortable if our mission from God disrupts “normal” or other human-imposed perimeters.
Lauren has indeed received many negative words and arguments about her choice to accept Ellen’s invitation and engage with the world in the endeavor of her performance.
However, in an interview, she says: “I think the second we start drawing lines around which people are able to be approached and which aren’t, we’ve already completely missed the heart of God … I don’t have all the answers in life, but one thing I know is that I can’t choose who I’m supposed to be kind too and who I’m not, because that’s the mission right? Be who Christ was to everyone as well.”
As Christians, we are aware that these things are not going to sit well with the darkness of our current age. We know through Scripture that the darkness seeks to hide from the Light.
What an incredible experience for this rising singer/songwriter to use the Ellen DeGeneres Show platform for the message of Hope!
That would all be amazing enough as is, but hold your hats, folks, Lauren returned to the forefront on another very well-known TV program just last week, performing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Pray that Lauren is able to walk through the backlashes that are inevitable when Light meets darkness, and for courage of heart to remain rooted in the Savior’s Love.
Pray for the souls that will hear Lauren sing, that where God sees soil for planting, He may use the message in her song choice for that show to begin a new work in them. Amen!
