Comments on: O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E

By: Obedience | Dangerous Intersection

Obedience | Dangerous Intersection — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:07:33 +0000

[...] Stuff Fundies Like] Related posts:What’s going down on fundie [...]

By: Reader Mo

Reader Mo — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:45:01 +0000

Hehe. Works salvation: a concept so disdained by fundies, yet so central to their actual soteriology. As I explained to my Baptist buddies when I became Eastern Orthodox- we both believe that works are necessary for salvation, the Orthodox are just honest about it.

By: Mel

Mel — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:12:08 +0000

I’m going with Alan and Camille on this one. In fact, going so far as to steal Alan’s comment and re-post it on my blog (with links).

What a song… Talk about reinforcing works-based sanctification!!

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:12:53 +0000

I haven’t heard this song in a long time. Funny how I automatically did the sign language alphabet in the chorus without even thinking about it (with BOTH hands yet!).

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:32:07 +0000

“Now I was told that â€œFather Abrahamâ€ was evil because it was incorrect. â€œThe Jews are the only children of Abraham, silly! NOT YOU!!â€”

I remember hearing a professor saying that once. I respect the man for at least being painstakingly consistent in his Dispensational-Arminian theology, especially as those consistencies were a factor in my becoming Reformed.

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:42:28 +0000

Now I was told that “Father Abraham” was evil because it was incorrect. “The Jews are the only children of Abraham, silly! NOT YOU!!” And so began my second-class citizenship status in dispensationalism. . . . Sigh. Nice to be on the outside and actually *read* Paul’s epistles.

And I agree with Alan on this one too. Remember the second verse:

We want to live pure, we want to live clean.
We want to do our best.
Sweetly submitting to authority.
Leaving to God the rest.

Etc. Setting us all up for failure and abuse with that one. Professional Pharisaism takes a lot of work — even with little ditties.

I do know the author of the song and the children for whom she wrote it. Personally. Went to school with them at BJU and have a continued friendship. I don’t know why I bring that up, tbh. Except to continue my sigh. . . .

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:44:34 +0000

Ah yes, Father Abraham: the Baptist version of the Hokey Pokey.

By: Reader Mo

Reader Mo — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:12:19 +0000

Rob: Father Abraham was verboten under my first pastor. He thought that the hand motions encouraged wicked dancing. Also, I think he had a problem with the song on account of the whole “call no man father” thing.

The Sunday school teacher’s first order of business after that pastor left the church to bring Christ to the Godless Catholics of the Phillipines (cause Catholics have never heard of Christ, don’t you know…) was to begin each Sunday school session with a rousing, rollicking rendition of Father Abraham. It was such guilty pleasure!

Somehow, “I’m in the Lord’s Army” was totally cool to the aforementioned pastor. Maybe it was the military theme. I wonder if he would have let us sing “General Abraham”…

As far as the wicked dancing thing goes- now that i’m grown up and married, i have a hard time seeing how “right arm! left arm!” could lead one into sinful lust. wait, i take that back. i have a hard time seeing how it could lead one into lusting after another person…

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:01:45 +0000

Remember all of the hand motions to “Father Abraham?” That is a great song to use at the end of children’s church when you are trying to kill time waiting for the guest evangelist to finish with the adults.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:54:29 +0000

Wait, there were motions? I don’t remember that! I remember motions to plenty of other songs (Lord’s Army, B-I-B-L-E, Jesus Loves Me, etc.), but not that one.

Bill, for the record I *love* (even prefer) old hymns set to new music. I’m a huge fan of what Indelible Grace and others have done in those veins. I just made that comment in reference to the anti-new music attitude that is common in fundy circles.

Alan, totally agree. You stated it much better than I could have!