It still slays me and drops me to my knees in humble gratitude: The Great God of the Universe condescended to take on human flesh to die so that I might live. The Giver of Life gave me a life I do not deserve, and took upon Himself a death that He did not deserve for what? Answer: Because He loved me. He always has loved me and He always will love me. This was His great gift to me – and you. What a Friend I’ve found. Merry Christmas, everyone. — Fred W. Anson
What A Friend I’ve Found
What a friend I’ve found
Closer than a brother
I have felt your touch
More intimate than lovers
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
What a hope I’ve found
More faithful than a mother
It would break my heart
To ever lose each other
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
Oh, Jesus, yeah, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
Oh, Jesus
(Yeah, yeah)
Jesus
(Hallelujah)
Jesus, friend forever
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, friend forever
(words and music by by Martin Smith)
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
(New Living Translation)
Beggar's Bread 
Those song lyrics do not have any theological depth. They hardly have artistic or literary value. You can’t be serious.
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Who said that it has theological depth or that it’s great art or literature?
It’s evocative. It’s meant to be evocative.
And evocation has a place. Not everything is “head”, there is a place for “heart” as well and the Bible is a balance of both not one or the other.
So, yes, I am serious. And so are the millions of others that this song has touched deeply as it has me.
If you don’t like it, that’s fine. But please don’t “should” on us.
Thanks.
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God requires both the “head” and the “heart” in worship. There is some truth to what you say in regard to maintaining balance. I am not telling you what to do, Fred. I also do not care what millions of other people think. It is just that there are more appropriate songs to use in being evocative.
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Well, it’s just good to know that your opinion is the only one that matters and is the final word on these matters. Thanks for correcting us all on that point, we certainly wouldn’t have known that if you hadn’t pointed it out to us. I mean, goodness forbid we should be deprived of the benefit of your opinion lest we all err.
So thanks again.
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I think you are being intentionally obtuse. I did not say only my opinion mattered, but truth is not determined by a majority. If you think that someone is wrong, you are not going to change your mind just because millions of other people share that point of view.
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I’m not trying to be obtuse, I’m trying to be clear and direct: You’re being rude and abrasive in public. Yes, you’re entitled to your opinion, but you’re not entitled to make it the absolute standard by which everyone and anything else should be judged.
OK, you don’t like the song.
Great. Your opinion is noted.
Don’t sing it.
Don’t listen to it.
Happily move on with your life and don’t give it another thought.
I can respect that.
And I suspect that others can and will too.
However, why in the world do you feel the need to impose your opinion on this song on the world by laying down a disparaging comment on (of all things) a Christmas post which was intended to be light and inspirational during the Holiday Season? And on a song that other people, who clearly disagree with you, love to boot? Why doesn’t their opinion matter, sir? Why is your opinion the only one that does here?
That I not only can’t respect, but I also won’t tolerate here either.
As the Bible says regarding such behavior:
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.”
— Proverbs 18:2 (ESV)
“The way of a fool is right in his own opinion,
but the one who listens to advice is wise.”
— Proverbs 12:15 (NET)
Now based on your pattern so far, I’m assuming that this plain-spoken advice will be ignored so at this point I too shall follow the wisdom of Proverbs at this point…
“Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.”
— Proverbs 23:9 (NLT)
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Sounds more like a “Jesus is my boyfriend” song.
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Glenn Chatfield wrote, “Sounds more like a “Jesus is my boyfriend” song.”
Oh, you mean like this?
John 15 NKJV
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
Why are you guys trashing a wonderful song that is completely biblical?
If you don’t like the song, fine. But you all really need to knock off the childish nonsense. Like now.
And you all need to cease and desist in trolling my website. Going forward, I won’t be approving your dogpiling drive-by snark. So let it go guys and move on – now.
Thanks.
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