Take Back What?

Faithful Is Our God a popular

song that’s hitting the charts by leaps and bounds due to its catchy tune and memorable melody. I too can hum this tune while my mind is occupied elsewhere. In fact even as I write this, the groove and its introduction takes off inside my head. There are a great majority of African American churches that would place this song in their liturgy.

Most of them I believe, never took the time to see what the message is within this song. I wonder if at all anyone asked, what is this song about? A bad song set to nice music. The appearance of gospel feel song with bad theology has got many saying who cares about the words its the music that’s great. This song may have you to believe it’s a God centered song but on the contrary it’s not. There is no message of the gospel in it. I’m thankful for those pastors and leaders who push back on this song not to be sung in their worship.

I’ve had countless discussion with colleagues who are still searching to show me thru scripture where it states “take back what the devil stole from me”. They are still looking and can’t seem to find the text to support it. Who in scripture went and got what was stolen from the enemy? If anyone in the Old Testament who could have gone and get their stuff back I would insight Job but such is not the case. He said it is the Lord who gives and takes away, blessed be His name.

The bible does not describe the enemy as a thief, it describes Satan as a murder, liar and a deceiver. In the New Testament our spiritual warfare is against powers and principalities. We are instructed to stand firm, fight, resist, watch and pray. Nowhere does it states for us to go after the devil and get whatever back.

A few years back a good friend of mine was called home to glory and at his memorial the worship leader chanted to the audience “lets take back what the devil stole from us” I sat in shock thinking are we to open the casket and all will be well? If so, everyone in here would be exiting the building soon as he simply sat up. The one at the mic was somehow stating that Satan was behind all of this, negating the sovereignty of our Lord God. What do you say to the family at a difficult time? That’s not what one should say.

Being a Christian does not guarantee the American dream of a wife, two kids, a big house on the hill with a white picket fence. All of this sounds like a perfect life, no financial issues, no relationship problems and no health issues. Following after Christ will cost you something and life circumstances are definitely inevitable. We have a great resource to turn to when difficult things happen and that’s the word of God. Life happens to all of us both Christians and non-Christians.

May I suggest that you let the Devil keep whatever you think he’s stolen and focus your mind on Christ and His unfailing promises. In Christ we are perfectly blessed and He deserve all of our praise and worship.