The Cross Movement - Test It Lyrics
Lyrics
(Prelude)
Yeah. The concoction (stir it up)
The Ambassador, The Phanatic, The Gift (Heaven's Mentality)
So all those who believe
What they believe come put it on the table
Know what I'm sayin', don't be scared let's test it
(Tonic)
Very superstitious
and everybody wants three wishes
from a Genie or a religious eenie meenie minie moe
pick a psychic flow
you say they're on point 'cause they told you 'bout your big toe
You say "How would they know I had a bunion?"
Told you to take coins and stuff 'em in an onion
then put 'em in a shoe box up in the attic
But make sure that the floor is quadratic
Man I had it clear up to my brain cabinet
You better beware of this witchcraft habit
Can this carry you across sin's chasm?
Well if not then it's all just a phantasm
leadin' you into a very real fantasia
Razor tongues cut deep but you can't feel it 'cause ya' numb man
even those in the fam lookin' for more than the words of the Son
tryin' to have fun
sayin': "God told me this" "The Lord told me that"
But if it ain't confirmed in the Word it ain't fact
But some still continue and I think it's sick
'cause back in the day they would'a had to catch a brick!
(Chorus)
If it's blessed then come manifest it
Bring it down let's test it
If it's blessed then come manifest it
Bring it down let's test it
'Cause this is only a test it's only a test
So if you're gonna bring it then you better bring your best
'Cause anything less might burn in the fire
Come-come let's test it
(The Phanatik)
Come grab your test paper from the teacher
slash preacher
without the collar
not schemin' dollars
and won't even scream and holler
'less the track's on
But even when I'm subtle
you'll still get your bubble blown
if you're out rebuttal known facts about Messiah
Invite me to your huddle zone even to your cypha'
Come let us reason
if there's a God ?- let's figure out how to please Him
and if He's dead we'll go ahead like we don't need Him
It sounds strange but tell me who do you believe in
See, since we got our pardon from the Garden of Eden
and pulled a treason
there's been some confusion
about who's really real and who's the illusion
Is this thing based on skin pigmentation?
Is God just a figment of imagination
'cause we can't trace Him? Is it the other way around?
Is man the figment? Do we even weigh a pound?
Do we hold weight as we rotate on our axis?
Who's world is this? I've been dying to ask this
We can't help what we are
Can't change our future by clickin' heels or wishin' on lucky stars
We need a change but whose got the method
You think you do put it on the table we'll test it
You can test ours matter-fact we suggest it
You won't be let down by the King, Mr. Majestic
The Son of God one of a wide selection
But who else has a check in the column for resurrection?
(Chorus)
Ya! It ain't over yet. The Ambassor! Last but not least
More than that chief. Come and represent and let's test it!
(The Ambassador)
We're informed that when the phat track's on
crews and packs form and swarm
to hear the next man get his rap on
Leavin' God out, that's norm, but that's gone
'cause we step down to give Jesus the platform
We put Him back on the map - long live this
Triune Squad, the real God not the Wizard of Oz
Nah, the real God with total mastery
with the capacity to speak a decree and it has to be
As for me, I'm lovin' this truth and ruggedness
We sing to the King of the Theocratic Government
We're brothers sent, never hesitant to represent
heaven the fly way, YAHWEH's resident
The opinions don't vary
in heaven it's all about the slain Lamb not the tooth fairy
Santa Claus, mother nature, rabbit paws
father time, luck, the man upstairs, that all had to fall
We exalt the Savior, Mr. Fix It
the Living Water, with more flavor than Mystic
I know statistics don't create optimistic
odds for God but He won't fade He's not lipstick
It's prime time for divine glory to shine
He says "Victory is Mine"
Man's wise, but only in another man's eyes
The God-Man lies and waits for a man when a man dies
And that's a fact comin' at you, don't let that catch you
Christ died you no longer have to
My suggestion is there be no more 'fessin' or guessin'
bring it to the front for the testin'
(Extended Chorus)
Well if it's blessed then come manifest it
Bring it down let's test it
I said if it's blessed then come manifest it
Bring it down let's test it
'Cause this is only a test it's only a test
If you're gonna bring it then you better bring your best
'Cause anything less might burn in the fire
Come-come let's test it
This is only a test it's only a test
So if you're gonna bring it then you better bring your best
'Cause anything less might burn in the fire
Come-come let's test it
Betcha' know how we do this it's the Movement
Heaven's Mentality-tality
Heaven's Mentality, Heaven's Mentality-tality
Video
Test It
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 28, 1997, as a foundational track from their acclaimed album *Heaven's Mentality*, The Cross Movement's "Test It" serves as a bold, theological declaration wrapped in compelling hip-hop. From its very opening, the song throws down a gauntlet, inviting anyone to bring forth their beliefs, philosophies, or spiritual leanings and subject them to rigorous scrutiny. It's a call to examine the authenticity and efficacy of what people claim to be true, emphasizing that genuine faith and life-altering truth should be able to withstand any test. This isn't just a critique of other ideologies; it's a confident affirmation of the unchanging, verifiable truth found in Jesus Christ and His Word, challenging both the world and even those within the Christian "fam" to ensure their understanding aligns with biblical reality.
The song delves immediately into the prevalent human tendency towards superstition and self-devised spiritual remedies. The Gift, through his "Tonic" verse, brilliantly deconstructs the allure of psychics, fortune-tellers, and mystical rituals, where individuals seek guidance from sources ranging from "Genie" to "religious eenie meenie minie moe." He exposes the superficiality of such practices, noting how seemingly accurate predictions about minor details like a "big toe" can lend false credibility to dangerous occult activities, whether it's stuffing coins in an onion or observing a "quadratic" floor. This isn't just a quirky observation; it's a stark warning against "witchcraft habit" and the "phantasm" of false hope that leads to a "very real fantasia," where sharp, deceptive words leave people spiritually numb. The critique extends even to those within the faith who seek experiences or pronouncements beyond the confirmed "words of the Son," claiming divine revelation without biblical validation. The song firmly asserts that "if it ain't confirmed in the Word it ain't fact," echoing Deuteronomy 18:10-12, which warns against such practices, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which declares all Scripture as God-breathed and sufficient for teaching and correction.
The chorus, a powerful and memorable refrain, crystallizes the song’s central message: "If it's blessed then come manifest it / Bring it down let's test it." This isn't an idle dare but a serious invitation to put one's convictions on the table. The repetition of "this is only a test" reinforces the call for honest evaluation, while the demand to "bring your best" carries weight, as "anything less might burn in the fire." This resonates deeply with 1 Corinthians 3:13, which speaks of a day when every man's work will be revealed and tested by fire, exposing what is truly of lasting value. It’s a challenge to distinguish between fleeting human inventions and eternal divine truth, reminding us that only what is truly from God will endure.
The Phanatik then steps forward, identifying himself not by traditional religious titles but as a "teacher / slash preacher" motivated by truth, not financial gain or superficial theatrics. He invites open dialogue, urging all to "come let us reason" – a direct callback to Isaiah 1:18, where God Himself invites His people to reason with Him. Phanatik thoughtfully probes fundamental questions about existence: "Is God just a figment of imagination 'cause we can't trace Him? Is it the other way around? Is man the figment?" This existential questioning highlights the confusion that has permeated humanity since the Fall in the "Garden of Eden," as described in Genesis 3. He underscores humanity's helplessness, stating we "can't change our future by clickin' heels or wishin' on lucky stars." Ultimately, Phanatik presents the unique solution in Christ, challenging any other belief system to match the singular historical event that sets Jesus apart: "who else has a check in the column for resurrection?" This rhetorical question powerfully points to the historical and spiritual uniqueness of Christ, as emphasized in Romans 10:9 and Acts 4:12, where salvation is declared to be found in no one else.
Finally, The Ambassador delivers a potent closing argument, shifting the focus from common hip-hop adoration of the performer to "giv[ing] Jesus the platform." He distinguishes the "Triune Squad, the real God," from fictional entities like the "Wizard of Oz," asserting God's absolute sovereignty and "capacity to speak a decree and it has to be." The Ambassador systematically dismisses a litany of cultural idols and substitutes for God—"tooth fairy, Santa Claus, mother nature, rabbit paws, father time, luck, the man upstairs"—firmly declaring that "all had to fall." This aligns with the biblical mandate against idolatry found in Exodus 20:3 and Isaiah 45:5-6, which proclaim God as the only true God. He exalts Jesus as "the Savior, Mr. Fix It, the Living Water, with more flavor than Mystic," drawing on imagery like John 4:10-14, where Jesus offers living water. Despite human "statistics" that may seem to diminish God's place, The Ambassador confidently declares God's immutable nature, stating "He won't fade He's not lipstick" and affirming "Victory is Mine." He concludes with the stark reality of death and the ultimate meeting with God, urging an end to "fessin' or guessin'" and an embrace of Christ's sacrifice, reminding all that "Christ died you no longer have to." This powerful culmination, echoing Romans 6:23 and John 14:6, calls for a definitive choice, bringing all beliefs "to the front for the testin'" against the revealed truth of the Gospel. "Test It" is not merely a song; it's an enduring theological challenge and an inspiring declaration of the unshakeable truth of God's Word in Christ, encouraging all to seek and stand upon what truly endures.