CCM II

I almost forgot my "series" that I had begun. Contemporary Christian lyrics that I like to scorn.

Thus, I shall make my #2 pick. Lyrics to the chorus are below:

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I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend.
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I'm trying to figure out the logic here- am I a friend of God because He calls me friend, or does He call me friend because I am a friend of God??

Here's the verse (yes, singular):

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Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me, when I call
Is it true that you are thinking of me
How You love me
It's amazing
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Now, I'll give a tenth of a point for effort- Psalm 8 is a wonderful passage in the Bible:

"What is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet....O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"

Regardless, if you were to listen to the song, you would find that the chorus (the "I am a friend of God" portion) is repeated, oh, at least 5, 6, 7 times? Clearly the emphasis.

Now before I start my thesis, I will say- it is very true that God loves each and every human being. He sent His son to pay the penalty for our errors (sins), and anyone who calls on Christ as his or her Savior will become the son or daughter of God. In addition, Jesus did say to His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15:15).

But I don't think that's what this song is trying to preach. In fact, a quick look at the author (or at least singer) of the song, and the real story starts to pan out.

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Israel Houghton is considered a forerunner and architect of cross-cultural worship. He has written hundreds of songs for the church worldwide and is an award winning producer and arranger. Israel is the Founder and President of New Breed Music which is a worship movement that crosses all cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries. He also serves as worship leader at Lakewood Church in Houston with Pastor Joel Osteen.
However; simply put Israel says, “I am a husband to Meleasa, a father to Mariah, Israel II, and Milan Lily, and a Friend of God.”
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Do you know who Joel Osteen is? If not, he wrote a book called "Your Best Life Now." His mega-church reaches over 30,000 people (in person) each week, and possibly millions more by TV. But his sermons, although not quite "name-it, claim-it," are lacking in substance and focus upon thinking good feelings, believing God's goodness in your life, and assuring yourself that God wants to prosper you. Suffering and persecution play little or no role in his messages.

Which makes it difficult for me to reconcile with the verses almost immediately following John 15:15 (the "friend of God" verse). They say:

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:19-20)

So, my railing upon a CCM song has turned into more of a rant about a certain televangelist who overlooks some fundamental aspects of the Christian's life (did he forget to read "The Pilgrim's Progress" as a little boy?). To me, the song simply reiterates the half-truth that being a Christian is more about me than it is about God.

And my daddy always taught me that a half-truth is also a half-lie, which makes it no truth at all.