This summer one of the songs that I’ve heard continually on Christian radio stations is the song “He Said” by Group 1 Crew. It’s a catchy song, and I personally like poppy type stuff, so I enjoy the song for the most part.

While I think the song sounds OK, I can’t help but get frustrated every time I hear it.

Here are some of the lyrics, and then I’ll explain what frustrates me.

So your life feels like it don’t make sense
And you think to yourself, ‘I’m a good person’
So why do these things keep happening?
Why you gotta deal with them?

You may be knocked down now
but don’t forget what He said, He said

I won’t give you more, more then you can take
and I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break
and No-o-o-o-o, I’ll never ever let you go-o-o-o-o
Don’t you forget what He said

Now, here are my 2 basic problems with this song:

1. It assumes that if you’re a good person, you shouldn’t have to deal with any confusion or suffering in life. 

The first verse essentially affirms the idea that if I think “Hey, I’m a good person” then I have justification to never experience any pain, misunderstand my circumstances, or feel like God is silent. That’s simply not true, and frankly, whether or not I think I’m a good person is irrelevant. God is the judge of goodness.

2. God didn’t say most of the stuff they claim He said.

God never said, “I won’t give you more than you take.” Never. Here’s what He did say:

• “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 HCSB

• “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3 HCSB

The hope believers have in the midst of terrible circumstances is not that God will “let us bend but not let us break.” The hope we have is that God will ultimately get vengeance on evil and transform our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body.

Let’s do a better job of teaching an eternal perspective in our little Christian subculture. I don’t mean to be “that guy” who throws shots at people, but I feel like this is an important issue. I mean no disrespect to the artist. I do mean to critique their message.

How can you begin thinking eternally in your daily decisions? How can you lead your followers to do the same?