Cody Carnes’ Firm Foundation: A Biblical Review - by Publisher

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The nameless author promises us a biblical review of this song. The reader might be fooled into thinking that the author is going to explain from the Bible the errors of the song's lyrics.

Nope.

The author will begin by talking about himself. Then, he will complain about how the song is focused on self. Ironic, and frankly, embarrassing.

The thing is, there are some pretty egregious "worship" songs out there, and the author could have selected any one of those. Here are some somewhat mild offenders:

• Show Me Your Glory - by Brandon Lake and Leeland Mooring
• Closer - by Amanda Cook
• Met By Love - by Brandon Hampton, Brock Human, Michael Ketterer, and Will Reagan
• Spirit Lead Me - Michael Barkulis | Melody Noel | Graham Moore | Michael Ketterer | Whitney Medina | Gabriel Wilson

While these are not terrible, we would consider them worse than the author's subject. The reader may be interested in our critiques of bad worship songs.

We should note that our intent is not to defend Cody Carnes or Bethel church. Our intent is to point out the numerous shortcomings of the author's presentation.

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I’ve written numerous times on the influx of modern charismatic music infiltrating Evangelical churches and the devastating effects it has on those churches. I’ve personally witnessed this as solid, God-glorifying worship is exchanged for man-centered feel-goodism that’s geared toward the temporal aspects of everyday life rather than the attributes of God.

In one article, I covered how this emotionally-driven music has a psychological factor to it with its repetitive chants and lyrics which have the effect of opening the mind to suggestion. The charismatic movement employs this technique to emotionally manipulate the audience prior to the preacher taking the stage to open their minds to be able to more easily receive whatever is being stated.

But that isn’t the only problem. In another article, I demonstrated how this fleshly-driven modern worship music takes the glory away from God and puts it on men. The commercialized Christian music industry not only enables this idolatry but promotes it to the degree that God’s glory is robbed from Him at many levels, including in churches. The vast majority of Christian contemporary music is produced by celebrity artists who’ve compromised on biblical truths in order to serve their own selfish desires. (Having wasted three paragraphs on himself, the author now turns to the purpose of his article...)

One of Cody Carne’s (sic) latest and most popular songs, Firm Foundation, is demonstrative of just this. The lyrics of this new song, which is performed in conjunction with Maverick City Music, are a psycho-babble mess of man-centered theology sprinkled with a little bit of Jesus on it. And while the lyrics may not technically be false, (The author levels his charges, then immediately concedes that the lyrics are not false. Hmm.)

the lyrics point primarily to the emotions of man. It is man’s emotions rather than God’s Word, His attributes, or His Glory that are driving these lyrics. (The author claims that the song is about Carnes' emotions rather than the Bible or God's glory. But that's all the author does - make the claim. Repeatedly. But he explains nothing, documents nothing, and examines nothing.)

The song starts out with these lyrics: (We shall document the lyrics with scriptural references.)

Christ is my firm foundation (2Ti. 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm...)

The Rock on which I stand (1Co. 10:4b ...and that rock was Christ.)

When everything around me is shaking (He. 12:27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.)

I’ve never been more glad (Ps. 100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.)

That I put my faith in Jesus (Ro. 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.)

‘Cause He’s never let me down (1Co. 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.)

He’s faithful through generations (Ps. 119:90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations...)

So why would He fail now? (Jo. 23:14b ...not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.)

He won’t
He won’t

The first problem here is that, as you can see, the first verse is primarily focused on Cody Carnes (The author is apparently unaware of the idea of testifying via music. Hymns like 

• Amazing Grace
• Blessed Assurance
• Victory in Jesus
• Great is Thy Faithfulness
• Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
• When I survey
• And Can It Be
• At the Cross Where I First Saw the Light
• It is Well With My Soul

are all musical testimonies of what God has done for the person. It should go without saying that it would nearly impossible to give testimony without referencing one's self.)

and the emotional and mental ups and downs of his life. (No emotions have been referenced.) 

And while he points to Christ as the “firm foundation,” he ultimately credits himself with “putting his faith in Jesus.” (No, we can read the lyrics ourselves, Mr. Publisher. I’ve never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus, ‘Cause He’s never let me down is a plain statement of joy at God's faithfulness.)

The next verse isn’t any better, as he continues to credit himself for the work of Christ: 

I’ve still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength 
‘Cause I build my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful in еvery season
So why would He fail now?

(Now the author flat-out lies. Again, we can read for ourselves, and Carnes categorically contradicts the author: I’m not held by my own strength. To whose strength and attributes is Carnes referring, Mr. Publisher?) 

The song is focused on his own joy and peace now, (Whose joy and peace would Carnes be singing about if not his own?)

and even though he says that he isn’t held by his own strength, (The author admits that what he previously wrote is not true!!)

he again credits himself for “building his life on Jesus.” (Um, yeah, no. Mr. Publisher, who else builds one's own life? The author, looking for excuses to be offended at these innocuous and biblical lyrics, blinds himself to the contents of Scripture:

2Pe. 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

1Co. 3:12-14 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

Lk. 12:32-33 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Ph. 2:12b-13 ...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

It galls us that these heresy hunters, intent at rooting out every error, real or imagined, simply make things up. The author is forced infer and amplify, because the song's lyrics don't say the things that will allow him to discredit Carnes. 

That is so petty.)

The song continues with lyrics not about the glory of God, (God's faithfulness is glorified.)

not even about the cross of Christ, (Is every worship song required to mention the cross of Christ?  Nope. Contemporary song writers, like the hymnwriters of old, write lyrics on a variety of topics.)

but about the emotional and mental peace (The author dishonestly inserts emotions in order to further his false narrative.)

he has when he is emotionally charged with Jesus. (It gets worse. The author, intent on denigrating the song, imputes things to Carnes that he cannot know about him.)

In fact, when music like this is done, it’s eerily similar to coming to worship to take a few sips of Jesus wine to get you through the day and then coming in for a re-fill the next time. (Doubling down on his false narrative, the author descends into inanity.)

That is not the point of worship. (Mr. Publisher, here is your chance to explain. What is the point of worship? You made the statement, now explain. You've done nothing but offer summary denials and undocumented opinions you cannot know about Carnes. So now you make a declaration about "the point of worship," and you punt? What?)

This is mainstream contemporary Christian music. It feeds the flesh and weakens our mission (Galatians 5:16). Carnes is tied to Bethel Music and under the Bethel umbrella. (Ahh, now we find out what the real problem is. It isn't the song at all, it's all because of Bethel. The author could have saved us a lot of time by stating his bias at the beginning.)

As I’ve written numerous times, Bethel music, in its insatiable lust for more followers, is seeking to devour anyone who has itching ears (2 Tim 4:3). We are commanded in Scripture to avoid these false teachers, these workers of darkness who produce bad fruits, to have absolutely nothing to do with them, rather expose them (Eph 5:11). Christians need to turn from their fleshly desires of unholy worship and focus on that which is acceptable in the eyes of God, and what brings Him alone glory.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. –Romans 12:2 (Hmm, the author finally quotes Scripture, right at the end. But it's not to document where Carnes went wrong in his lyrics. 

Remember the title of the author's article, "a Biblical Review?" This is what constitutes a biblical review, a nearly complete lack of the Bible?

One last thing. The author did not quote the bridge to the song:

Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through

Carnes makes it even more clear that God is faithful, and that's why he builds his life on that sure foundation. 

The author, of course, did not mention this, likely because it would defeat his narrative.)