Intro
Child of God, ooh
Child of God, ooh
Child of God, ooh
Child of God, ooh
Interlude
I have dear friends who've adopted children
And they said the hardest part was filling out the questionnaire
Asking you what kind of challenges you're willing to live with
What kind of disabilities, as the world would call them
You're okay with in a child that you're going to adopt
Like are you okay if they can't walk?
If they're paralyzed, if they're in a wheelchair and you've got to push them
Are you okay if they can't eat and they have a feeding tube?
Are you okay if they have some mental disabilities, they're not able to learn?
Or they're lacking cognitive functions
Their brain's not working as a, a normal brain would
Are those things that you're alright with?
And do you think, "Man, if I don't choose that child who will?
If I say I'm not okay with that
Then what's going to happen to that person, that living being?"
And what I love when I'm thinking about God adopting us
Is that He says, "I'll take that one
And I'll take the one that's stuck in pornography like a dog to his vomit
He keeps going back to his sin
I'll take her when she's starving herself
I'll take the one who looks in the mirror and hates what she sees
I'll take the person who sits with the razor blade, cutting their arm
I'll take the one who constantly thinks of himself
Walks into a room and wonders what everyone is saying about them or thinking about them
They're enslaved to their insecurity"
And the list goes on and on and on and on
There's no disqualifying disability that the Lord turns away
There's no one that God says, "Oh, they're too far gone, I can't save them
Jesus' blood is not enough," that he didn't die for them
Anyone who would trust in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ
For the forgiveness of sins can be adopted as God's children
We can be his kids, not his slaves
Not his workers, not people who are trying to earn our allowance
Not someone who's trying to earn a wage
But women and men
Who have been adopted by the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth
To be His children to call Him Abba Father
Outro
Ooh, child of God
Ooh, oh
Ooh, child of God
Ooh, oh
Forrest Frank, Jonathan Pokluda - CHILD OF GOD (Official Audio)
Child of God Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Forrest Frank's "Child of God," featuring Jonathan Pokluda, released on July 26, 2024, presents a profound reflection on identity and divine acceptance. The song utilizes a simple, powerful musical motif alongside a central spoken-word interlude to convey its core message. The repetition of "Child of God" in the intro and outro serves as a foundational declaration, grounding the listener in the ultimate identity the song explores. This phrase acts as a reminder of belonging and inherent worth, setting the stage for the deeper explanation that follows.
The heart of the song lies within the detailed interlude, which draws a compelling analogy between human adoption and God's relationship with humanity. It opens by recounting the challenging process faced by prospective adoptive parents, who must specify the types of difficulties or 'disabilities' they are willing to accept in a child. This stark portrayal of human limitations in acceptance provides a striking contrast to the boundless acceptance described in God's adoption. The speaker lists various human struggles and brokenness – including addiction (likened to a 'dog to his vomit'), self-harm, insecurity, cognitive difficulties, and physical challenges – portraying them as spiritual 'disabilities' that might disqualify one in human eyes.
However, the central message pivots dramatically as the interlude describes God's perspective. It emphasizes that there is "no disqualifying disability that the Lord turns away." The song asserts that God says, "I'll take that one," regardless of the depth or nature of their struggles or sins. This highlights a theme of unconditional love and radical grace, suggesting that no one is too far gone or broken for God's acceptance. The act of being adopted by God is presented not as something earned through merit or overcoming challenges, but as a freely given gift contingent only on trust in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
This divine adoption fundamentally changes a person's status. The song contrasts being God's children with being slaves, workers earning wages, or people trying to earn allowance. This distinction underscores the idea that our relationship with God is based on grace and belonging, not on performance or works. Being adopted as God's children allows believers to call the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth "Abba Father," a term signifying intimate relationship and familial closeness. This concept is deeply rooted in scripture, particularly in passages like Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6, which speak of receiving the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The reference to a 'dog to his vomit' is a direct allusion to Proverbs 26:11, also referenced in 2 Peter 2:22, often used to describe the regrettable pattern of returning to past sins after deliverance, yet the song includes even this struggle as something God is willing to embrace in adoption. The overarching scriptural theme supporting this adoption narrative is found throughout the New Testament, emphasizing God's love and redemptive plan through Christ, enabling believers to become children of God (e.g., John 1:12, Ephesians 1:5).
"Child of God" offers a deeply inspirational message of hope, particularly for those burdened by perceived failures, weaknesses, or past sins. It reframes self-worth not by personal merit or the absence of struggle, but by the identity freely given through divine adoption. The song's structure, moving from the simple declaration of identity to the detailed explanation of its basis in God's unconditional acceptance and back to the declaration, reinforces the message that one's status as a "Child of God" is secure, not dependent on human perfection but on divine grace. It is a reminder that regardless of the 'challenges' or 'disabilities' one carries, God's willingness to adopt remains unwavering for those who place their trust in Him.
