"I Am a Friend of God" by Israel Houghton
Sends the Wrong Message
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
VERSE:
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 (Who am I Lord)
CHORUS:
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
Verse
BRIDGE:
God Almighty
Lord of Glory
You have called me friend
Chorus
I am a Christian and I believe in God. God is my savior and I bow to him but in no way am I his friend. I am not his equal nor do I consider myself to be on any level plane with him as I would a friend. This is not to say that I don't love him, because I do.
The verse is honest enough. I have no qualms with it. The Chorus is another issue. God does not call me friend. I searched the bible and never found a reference to God calling us (me) his friend. I have no idea why Houghton would state "He calls me friend" and "You have called me friend". The thought behind the words is nice but not truthful. One listening to the song and hearing the message being shared would get the wrong message. This is shameful in my opinion. The words make for a catchy tune as well as a happy thought. But there is no truth in the statement. In fact, in my opinion, the chorus degrades the rest of the song. Given Houghton's experience as a seasoned worship leader, he should know better than to send a confusing mixed message to his followers. Houghton states "our message has shifted into more social and global concerns, focusing on identity and the purpose of God in everyone's life". Unfortunately, "I Am A Friend Of God" doesn't fulfill this message correctly.
Israel Houghton is connected to New Breed; however, they are both recording on their own currently. Israel is a multi-generational, multi-cultural and non-denominational recording artist. As a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and worship leader, he has created songs that have become standards in houses of worship. "I Am A Friend of God" shouldn't be one of them. In fact, this tract doesn't fit with the rest of his strong message related creations.
Published by Janet Trieschman
Janet has had a number of articles and reviews published, as well as many exhibitions and honors to her record and has been listed in Who's Who of Emerging Leaders, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who... View profile
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21 Comments
Post a CommentJames 2:23 - Abraham was considered God's Friend (HCSB)
I totally understand the writer's reverence. I can hardly believe that the Lord would be a friend to a wretch like me but I think He is working on me to allow me to see that he loves me that much. See what you guys think about this from Covenant, A Precept Bible Study, and here is part of what it says: In Isaiah 41:8 Abraham is referred to as God's friend, and again in 2 Chronicles 20:7 by Jehoshaphat. God made a covenant with him and his descendants (us - or all those who call on his name), and you don't cut covenant with those who aren't friends - David and Jonathon's friendship is a picture of that. Exodus 33:11 says The Lord spoke to Moses face to face just as a man speaks to his friend and God wanted to meet with the people like that but they wouldn't go and sent Moses instead. Proverbs 27:6 says that the wounds of a friend are faithful - certainly Christ was wounded for us. John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this: that he would lay down his life for his friends - PTL!
Honestly I don't think there is anything wrong with the song "Friend of God". It is a very good confession to make. This is all confirmed in John 15:14 and 15. Even verse 13 implies that Jesus died for His friends. In this context those who believe in Him benefit from his death on the cross. There is no greater love than the love of Jesus. Please give Israel a break. It's a nice song, scriptural based and truly inspired. There are a lot of so called gospel or christian songs out there that don't have any scripture basis or link to the Bible. May the Lord open the eyes of your understanding. May you experience what it is like when God calls you friend. It is a marvellous and wonderful experience. Ps. Eddie
Dawn:
Did you not pay attention to the verse of the song? "Who am I that YOU are mindful of me, that YOU hear me when I call?"
And at the closing of the song, it says that HE calls me friend. To accuse Israel Houghton of being boastful is also unscriptural, as this is a matter of the heart. So unless any of us have talked to him and asked him, then how could we know that he was being boastful?
Janet, I am amazed that people are still "setting you straight" after two years of comments. While I have never had an issue with the scriptural basis for the song, it still doesn't sit well with me, simply because it glorifies me, not the Lord. There is no offering of thanks for God befriending us, there is no praising, but rather the boasting of "Look at me! Yeah, I'm God's friend. We're best buds. (I'm picturing Barney Fife doing his cocky "sniff" he was so famous for!)"
I see that God called Abraham friend. But that was one man. I also see that in John 15:15-16, Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." He was talking to his disciples in this passage: the men who had traveled with him, listened to him preach, listened to his private instruction, ate with him, and spent so much time with him for years. But I still don't see Biblical support for God considering ALL of his children FRIENDS....so for now, I still agree with the author. Can someone enlighten me here with some sort of other Biblical support? I haven't found any.
I had the same concerns about this song. But as I was reading through John this month, I found this verse:
JOHN 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
So your statement is not entirely accurate.
I disagree! Ever consider John 15:14-15- (and this is Jesus Speaking) 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
God IS INDEED our friend.
Abraham is a friend of God it is confirmed even in the New Testament James 2:23. Jesus said to his disciples friends." John 15:15 but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. In the two preceding verses of ch 15 he said you are my friend. What a joy it is for us that we know the heart of the father through his son who made us his friends. May God bless us to understand our responsibilties to follow Jesus' commandments. Amen
On the particular song: "It’s bidirectional (you love; he calls) with two themes, the biblically derestricted witness of God’s global care (Ps.8/Heb.2) chorused with the biblically restricted theme of being befriended. The stanza seems to restrict Ps.8 to only Christians, and derestrict Jhn.15 to all Christians. An extended version seems to define God Almighty as Jesus, possibly changing conversion freedom (set free) to an ongoing release (setting me free), ending with hallelujah, probably as Yahweh to praise himself."