Camp has at times been a center of controversy as an outspoken critic of the Contemporary Christian Music industry's association with the mainstream music industry (as a consequence of the major CCM labels purchase by secular media conglomerates) and what he has suggested is a subsequent watering-down of explicitly Christian verbiage lyrically in a bid for mainstream fame and airplay. One such flashpoint occurred when he wrote a symbolic open letter to the industry on October 31, 1998. (That date is known as Reformation Day in Protestantism when Martin Luther is said to have nailed a list of grievances against the Catholic church to a German church door.)
Camp is also seen as a leading proponent of Reformed Theology via his blog and as senior pastor at The Cross Church in Palm City, Florida.
Justice
Steve Camp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had Cupid on his arm
His words went down like fine red wine
And he won you with his charms
You loved him and trusted him
Believed every word he said
But he lied and he deceived you
Now someone else is in your bed
He left you for another
He betrayed you with a kiss
But God says in the end
Just give me justice!
(Whoa-oh, justice)
Last night I turned on my TV
And a preacher said to me
He said, "Just send me a $100 bill
God will bless you ten times, you see!"
Some equate money with holiness
But, my friend, that is a lie
One man claimed God held him ransom
If he didn't have enough, he'd die!
But my life does not consist
Of all the things which I possess
Do you hear God's call to faithfulness
And not to success?
Ah, give me justice!
(Whoa-oh, justice)
It's time for justice!
They say the church has been silent
She belongs in politics
So we turned our eyes to Hollywood
And we found a president
Who said he was one of us
That his life was hid in Jesus' scars
But it kind of makes you wonder
When his wife consults the stars
But God laughs at kings and princes
And all their foolishness
And the cross waves higher than the flag
And they best remember this
(God loves justice!)
Ah, He love justice!
(God loves justice!)
My Lord, He loves, He wants
(God loves justice!)
(God loves justice!)
Look through your stained-glass windows
Sitting right outside your church
There's a poor man living on the corner
Not a penny in his purse
His clothes are torn and tattered
Got no shoes upon his feet
Have you shared with him your bread and wine
Or left him on the street
To care for the widow and orphan
Pure religion is this
When you've done it to the least of them
There is justice!
Justice!
See how the faithful cry
Has become an adulteress
Her heart is full of worldly ways
Instead of righteousness
"When you raise your hands in prayer
I will hide my eyes from you
I find no pleasure in your offerings
When your heart has been untrue
Take your evil deeds
Out of my sight!
Stop doing what is wrong
And do what is right!"
Ah, listen to the word of the Lord
Do not rebel or resist
For if you harden your heart, you'll learn
Ah, there is justice!
All I want is justice, yeah!
The song Justice by Steve Camp is a commentary on the hypocrisy and corruption within religion and society. The first verse tells the story of a woman who fell in love with someone who lied to and betrayed her, and God is called upon to bring justice. The second verse criticizes televangelists who use religion to manipulate people into giving them money. The third verse discusses the merging of politics and religion and the questionable actions of those in power. The fourth verse speaks about the obligation of individuals and the church to help those in need, especially the poor.
The chorus repeatedly calls for justice, as the song urges listeners to demand accountability and righteousness from themselves and others. The use of rhetorical questions challenges listeners to examine their actions and beliefs and to strive for a higher moral standard.
The overall message of the song is that justice is not just a legal concept but a spiritual and ethical one that should be lived out in all areas of life. The lyrics call for a return to the values of faith, love, and compassion that guide us towards a just society.
Line by Line Meaning
You met a smooth-talking stranger
You encountered a charming and suave person
Had Cupid on his arm
Who had the power of love on his side
His words went down like fine red wine
His words were smooth and sweet
And he won you with his charms
And he used his charms to win you over
You loved him and trusted him
You loved and believed in him
Believed every word he said
And trusted everything he told you
But he lied and he deceived you
But he lied and misled you
Now someone else is in your bed
And now he has been unfaithful and left you for someone else
He left you for another
He abandoned you for someone else
He betrayed you with a kiss
He betrayed you with a sign of affection
But God says in the end
But in the end, God has the final say
Just give me justice!
Justice will be served by God!
Last night I turned on my TV
I watched TV last night
And a preacher said to me
And a preacher spoke to me
He said, "Just send me a $100 bill
He asked me to send him money
God will bless you ten times, you see!"
Promising God's blessings in return
Some equate money with holiness
Some people mistakenly believe money equals holiness
But, my friend, that is a lie
But that is false, my friend
One man claimed God held him ransom
One man claimed God had a hold on him
If he didn't have enough, he'd die!
That he needed more money to survive
But my life does not consist
But my life is not defined by
Of all the things which I possess
All the material things that I own
Do you hear God's call to faithfulness
Can you hear God's call for you to be faithful?
And not to success?
Rather than just focusing on worldly achievements.
Ah, give me justice!
Oh, I just want justice!
It's time for justice!
The time for justice is now
They say the church has been silent
People claim that the church has been quiet
She belongs in politics
She should play a role in politics
So we turned our eyes to Hollywood
So we look for guidance from Hollywood
And we found a president
And we elected a president
Who said he was one of us
Who claimed to share our beliefs
That his life was hid in Jesus' scars
That he had a strong faith in Jesus
But it kind of makes you wonder
But it raises some doubts
When his wife consults the stars
When his wife seeks guidance from astrology
But God laughs at kings and princes
But God sees through the arrogance of the powerful
And all their foolishness
And their foolish ways
And the cross waves higher than the flag
And the cross is more powerful than any national symbol
And they best remember this
And they should not forget this important fact.
(God loves justice!)
(God loves justice!)
Ah, He love justice!
Oh, God loves justice!
My Lord, He loves, He wants
My Lord loves and desires
(God loves justice!)
(God loves justice!)
(God loves justice!)
(God loves justice!)
Look through your stained-glass windows
Look outside your church, beyond your comfort zone
Sitting right outside your church
There is a person sitting right outside your church
There's a poor man living on the corner
A poor man is living on the corner
Not a penny in his purse
He has no money
His clothes are torn and tattered
His clothes are in poor condition
Got no shoes upon his feet
He is barefoot
Have you shared with him your bread and wine
Have you offered him food and drink
Or left him on the street
Or ignored him and left him alone
To care for the widow and orphan
Taking care of widows and orphans
Pure religion is this
This is what true religion is about
When you've done it to the least of them
When you help the least fortunate among you
There is justice!
There is justice!
See how the faithful cry
See how those who believe are suffering
Has become an adulteress
The church has been unfaithful
Her heart is full of worldly ways
The church is preoccupied with worldly concerns
Instead of righteousness
Rather than focusing on goodness and justice
"When you raise your hands in prayer
When you pray and worship
I will hide my eyes from you
God will not listen to you
I find no pleasure in your offerings
God does not take pleasure in your worship
When your heart has been untrue
When your heart has been insincere
Take your evil deeds
Remove your sinful actions
Out of my sight!
Get rid of your immoral ways
Stop doing what is wrong
Stop sinning
And do what is right!
And start doing what is good
"Ah, listen to the word of the Lord
"Listen to what God has to say
Do not rebel or resist
Do not fight against God's will
For if you harden your heart, you'll learn
If you ignore God's voice, you'll regret it
Ah, there is justice!
Oh, there is justice!
All I want is justice, yeah!
All I want is justice!
Contributed by Ava J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.