Please Come
Nichole Nordeman Lyrics
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To keep you out, to keep me in, to keep it safe
And oh, the sense of my own self entitlement
To say who's wrong or won't belong or cannot stay
'Cause somebody somewhere decided
We'd be better off divided
And somehow despite the damage done
There is room enough for all of us, please come
And the arms are open wide enough, please come
And our parts are never greater than the sum
This is the heart of the One
Who stands before an open door and bids us come
Oh, the times when I have failed to recognize
How may chairs are gathered there around the feast
To break the bread and break these boundaries
That have kept us from our only common ground
The invitation to sit down if we will come
There is room enough for all of us, please come
And the arms are open wide enough, please come
And our parts are never greater than the sum
This is the heart of the One
Who stands before an open door and bids us come
Come from the best of humanity
Come from the depths of depravity
Come now and see how we need
Every different bead on this same string
Come, there is room enough for all of us, please come
And the arms are open wide enough, please come
And our parts are never greater than the sum
This is the heart of the One
Who stands before an open door and bids us come
Come, there is room enough for all of us
Come, and the arms are open wide
And our parts are never greater than the sum
This is the heart of the One
Who stands before an open door and bids us come
And bids us come
The song "Please Come In" by Nichole Nordeman is a powerful commentary on the tendency of some to create boundaries around their faith and exclude others who may not share the same beliefs. The lyrics are a reflection of the singer's own experience with this behavior and her realization that it goes against the message of inclusion and acceptance preached by the Bible. The first verse talks about how she used to draw lines around her faith in order to keep people out and keep herself safe, but she now sees that this behavior is self-entitled and wrong.
In the second verse, she acknowledges that she has failed in the past to recognize the true message of the Bible - that there is room enough for all of us at the table. She references the metaphorical table or feast that is central to many Christian teachings, where everyone is invited to partake in the bounty regardless of their background or beliefs. She notes that the table is a symbol of common ground, and that it is only by breaking down the boundaries and reaching out to others that we can truly come together in fellowship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the days when I drew lines around my faith
There were times when I isolated myself from others because of my faith
To keep you out, to keep me in, to keep it safe
I drew those lines so that I could protect my beliefs and avoid encountering opposing views
And oh, the sense of my own self entitlement
I thought that I had the right to decide who belonged and who didn't
To say who's wrong or won't belong or cannot stay
I judged others and excluded them based on their beliefs or behaviors
'Cause somebody somewhere decided
There are forces and influences that have shaped our thinking and behavior
We'd be better off divided
We have been taught to believe that separation and division were necessary for our well-being
And somehow despite the damage done
Despite the harm that has been caused by our divisiveness
He says, "Come "
God invites us to come together despite our differences and see each other as equals
There is room enough for all of us, please come
There is space for everyone in this world, and we should welcome others with open arms
And the arms are open wide enough, please come
We should embrace others warmly and accept them for who they are
And our parts are never greater than the sum
No one's individual contributions or qualities are more important than the collective good of all humanity
This is the heart of the One
This is what God desires for us and what is at the core of our faith
Who stands before an open door and bids us come
God is welcoming and inviting us to come and unite with others
Oh, the times when I have failed to recognize
There were moments when I didn't realize how many people were excluded because of my actions and beliefs
How may chairs are gathered there around the feast
There are many people who are eager to have a place at the table and be included in the community
To break the bread and break these boundaries
We should share our resources, our commonalities, and break down the barriers that separate us
That have kept us from our only common ground
Our shared humanity is the only thing that truly unites us all
The invitation to sit down if we will come
We are invited to join others if we are willing to put aside our differences and embrace our similarities
Come from the best of humanity
We should come together and bring our best qualities with us, such as compassion, understanding, and love
Come from the depths of depravity
Even if we have made mistakes or have a checkered past, we are still worthy of acceptance and love
Come now and see how we need
We need each other to survive, grow, and flourish as individuals and as a community
Every different bead on this same string
We are all different but still connected to each other in some way, like beads on a necklace
Come, and bids us come
God keeps inviting us to unite and love one another, and it's up to us to accept the offer
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind