Chris Renzema - Hereditary Lyrics
Lyrics
I've seen a saint fall from grace
But I'm not sure that'd I'd use that phrase
'Cause if grace is something you can misplace
Then what's the point of it anyway?
'Cause I said it would never be me
To waver in this faith I decree
But the apple don't fall far from the tree
And the human condition's hereditary
Ya the human condition's hereditary
'Cause its in the blood
Coursing through my veins
Same old story same family name
Prone to wander
This heart in me
'Cause the human conditions hereditary
So would you come take an axe to my family tree
O Heavenly Father would you adopt me
Well I've stood by in disbelief
Watching a pastor pull up in a sports car to preach
About how blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek
I can't help but see the irony
But that same impulse lives in me too
Put me in the garden, id of taken the fruit
Cause the human condition's not just for the few
Oh its here in me just like its here in you
'Cause its in the blood
Coursing through my veins
Same old story same family name
Prone to wander
This heart in me
'Cause the human conditions hereditary
So would you come take an axe to my family tree
O Heavenly Father would you adopt me
'Cause its in the blood
Coursing through my veins
Same old story same family name
Prone to wander
This heart in me
'Cause the human conditions hereditary
So would you come take an axe to my family tree
Would You pull up the roots of my family tree
O Heavenly Father would you adopt me
Video
Chris Renzema - “Hereditary (feat. Jess Ray)” [Official Audio Video]
Meaning & Inspiration
Chris Renzema's "Hereditary," released on March 13, 2024, as part of his album *Manna*, plunges into the profound and often uncomfortable truth of the human condition, exploring our inherent brokenness and the desperate need for divine intervention. The song unpacks the universal struggle with sin, not as an isolated incident, but as a deeply rooted, ancestral inheritance that impacts every individual. Renzema skillfully navigates the tension between our aspirations for spiritual purity and the undeniable reality of our fallen nature, ultimately driving the listener to a place of humble dependence on God's redemptive grace.
The song opens with a poignant reflection on spiritual failure, critiquing the common, perhaps superficial, understanding of grace as something one can "misplace." This immediately challenges a performance-based faith, suggesting that if grace is so fragile, its very purpose is diminished. A more biblical understanding, as found in Ephesians 2:8-9, reveals grace as an unmerited gift, a steadfast favor from God that holds us firm, not a possession easily lost. The artist then confronts his own youthful idealism, admitting his earlier conviction that he would never waver in faith. This personal confession quickly broadens into the song's central thesis: "the apple don't fall far from the tree / And the human condition's hereditary." This speaks directly to the doctrine of original sin, highlighting that our propensity to sin is not merely a choice but an inherited state, a spiritual genetic code passed down through generations since the Fall, as described in Romans 5:12 and Genesis 6:5. Our spiritual inclinations are indeed "in the blood," a universal struggle shared by all humanity.
The chorus then becomes a fervent cry, recognizing this deeply ingrained nature: "Same old story same family name / Prone to wander." This phrase, echoing the classic hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," perfectly encapsulates the heart's tendency to stray from God. The desperation for liberation culminates in the powerful plea, "So would you come take an axe to my family tree / O Heavenly Father would you adopt me." This imagery is richly biblical. To "take an axe to my family tree" symbolizes a desire for radical severance from the lineage of sin, a yearning for spiritual amputation of the inherited fallen nature. This aligns with the call for repentance and transformation, to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, as John the Baptist exhorted in Matthew 3:10. More profoundly, the plea "adopt me" directly points to the glorious truth of our salvation in Christ. Through adoption, we are brought into God's family, receiving a new identity, a new inheritance, and a new Father (Galatians 4:4-7, Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:15). This spiritual adoption cuts the ties to our old, fallen lineage and grafts us into the divine family, making us new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Renzema continues his honest self-examination in the second verse, observing the irony of a pastor preaching humility from a place of apparent wealth, recalling Christ's teachings about the blessedness of the poor and meek in Matthew 5:3-5. This observation serves not as judgment, but as a mirror reflecting the universal struggle. He quickly acknowledges that the "same impulse lives in me too," admitting that if placed in the Garden of Eden, he too "would of taken the fruit," referencing the primal act of disobedience in Genesis 3:6. This raw honesty underscores that the "human condition's not just for the few," but "is here in me just like its here in you." It’s a humbling reminder that sin's pervasive reach knows no bounds, affecting all, from the pulpit to the pew, affirming the truth of Romans 3:23 that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
The repeated call to "pull up the roots of my family tree" in the bridge further intensifies the yearning for complete spiritual overhaul. It’s not just about cutting off visible fruit, but eradicating the very source of the brokenness, much like God's promise to give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us (Ezekiel 36:26). "Hereditary" by Chris Renzema is a profoundly spiritual anthem for those grappling with the weight of their own humanity and the persistent pull of sin. It articulates the universal yearning for true freedom, not through self-effort, but through the miraculous work of God's adoption and transformative grace. This song serves as a powerful reminder that our hope lies not in our ability to avoid falling, but in the Heavenly Father’s willingness to embrace us, sever our ties to a fallen lineage, and make us truly His own. It’s an inspiring call to lay down our burdens and surrender to the divine re-creation that makes all things new.