The early 1990s was a glorious era for Sunday School. Fueled by Ritz crackers, Nilla Wafers, felt boards full of happy hippie-looking characters, and an ABSOLUTE FIRE song playlist that was impressively both Deep and Wide, we had it all!

We had Peace Like a River. We had the Joy, Joy, Joy. The Oil in our Lamps was always Burnin’ Burnin’ Burnin‘. And Yes Sir, we were in the Lord’s Army!

But one particularly popular, arguably polarizing, unequivocally provocative song stood out among the rest. Who were the Millennials that sang this banger with effervescent gusto? 

I am one of them. And so are you. 

That classic song would be none other than FATHER ABRAHAM!

And now that we’ve actually had a few decades to consider the lyrics, let’s have some fun assessing the accuracy of what we were singing:

“Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham.”

Did Abraham really have many sons?  Well, Isaac was the only one we really talk about…the whole Ishmael thing was kind of a scandalous disaster. Although Abraham did have 6 more sons with Keturah after Sarah died. So 8 is quite a few…that checks out.

“I am one of them, and so are you.”

I can’t speak for you, but I’m fully Gentile. For me, it would be more accurate to say, “I’m not one of them, I’m not a Jew” if we’re honestly discussing heredity. But what’s this?  Dispensationalists and supersessionists just entered the chat!  Now opinionated theological scholars are yelling and arguing instead of singing!  Let’s move on to the last line of the song:

“So let’s all praise the Lord!”

Hey, at least we can all agree that the conclusion is spot-on!  

I also heard there was originally a second verse about circumcision given the historical importance of the ritual for Abraham and his offspring.  However, it didn’t make the final cut for the WOW Worship cassette tape…too confusing for the kids.

But whether you’re joking or still arguing about Replacement Theology, we would all be wise to seriously consider Galatians 3:28-29:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

So let’s all praise the Lord!