Scott Riggan does not avoid the damage people can experience inside the church on his new album, Shepherds and Wolves.
Released Aug. 28 through NRT Music, the 12-song project examines grief, betrayal, forgiveness and spiritual wounds through the biblical imagery of shepherds and wolves.
At the center is a contrast Riggan returns to throughout the album: human leaders can fail, but the Good Shepherd does not.
“Shepherds and Wolves is the most honest album I’ve ever written,” Riggan said. “These songs came from seasons where I had more questions than answers.”
Scott Riggan Writes About Wounds Inside the Church
Several songs deal directly with the tension between faith and disappointment with people who claim spiritual authority.
“Song of the Wolf” addresses betrayal and abuse from within the church. Meanwhile, the Psalm 23-inspired “Song of the Shepherd” turns toward the character of Christ.
Together, those songs give the album its title and larger structure.
Rather than suggesting that spiritual hurt disappears quickly, Riggan allows the songs to sit with grief, anger and unresolved questions.
Still, he does not leave those experiences as the final word.
“I hope that people who have experienced disappointment, loss, or spiritual wounds will discover they aren’t alone–and that the Shepherd still hasn’t stopped pursuing them,” Riggan said.
‘You’re Forgiven Now’ Separates Forgiveness From Reconciliation
The album’s focus track, “You’re Forgiven Now,” tackles another difficult subject: choosing forgiveness when reconciliation may never happen.
Musically, the song begins with piano and restrained verses before opening into a larger chorus.
Its central tension comes from remembering what happened while refusing to let the injury control the future.
“I never will forget what cannot be undone,” Riggan sings before arriving at the song’s central decision: “I will choose the power of forgiveness.”
That distinction fits the broader album. Healing does not require pretending that betrayal, abuse or grief never happened.
Instead, Riggan treats forgiveness as part of what comes after honestly naming the wound.
‘Shepherds and Wolves’ Builds a 12-Song Narrative
The album opens with “Bring Me Home” and then moves through several songs Riggan released during the project’s rollout.
Among them are “Song of the Shepherd,” “Song of Peace,” “Song of the Wolf,” “This Is Who I Am” and “Broken Pieces.”
In addition, Riggan includes his interpretations of Andrew Peterson’s “Always Good” and Cory Asbury’s “Kind.”
The complete track list is:
- “Bring Me Home”
- “Song of the Shepherd”
- “You’re Always In My Heart”
- “Song of Peace”
- “Always Good”
- “Song of the Wolf”
- “The End of the World”
- “You’re Forgiven Now”
- “This Is Who I Am”
- “Broken Pieces”
- “Kind”
- “Song of Peace (Reprise)”
Jason Collum and Riggan produced the album.
For Riggan, who also serves as a worship pastor in Idaho, the project brings together subjects that do not always fit neatly into conventional worship music.
There is grief here, along with disappointment in church leadership. There are also questions about trust, fear and forgiveness.
Ultimately, the album keeps returning to one distinction: people can fail, but Christ does not share their failures.
That is where Shepherds and Wolves places its hope.