After hearing the choir, I felt it needed a singer to lead. I reached out to a gospel singer who agreed. However, to this day, she still hasn’t heard my “Sunday School” verses. She had no idea that I’d be denouncing my religion. I don’t care, but I wonder, would she care? I find beauty in not knowing, similar to my agnostic views.
A Message of Hope and Healing
In the chorus, the choir sings, “You’re the one. The one who can save. You’re the one. The one who can heal. You’re the only one. You’re the one who will.” Being sung by a choir, these lines could be quite deceptive. Anyone would assume they’re singing to a God, spiritual being, or what have you. And that probably was their intention until I heard otherwise.
Breaking Free from Religion
The first verse is where I shatter those assumptions: “Oh, I know what you are thinking but it ain’t gon be none of that shit. I am not religious.”. I’ve broken free from the faith I used to hold dear. No one can convert me back, and I’d rather face any consequence than return to traditional religion. My rendition, incorporating 1 Corinthians 13:11, ironically drives the point: “You probably wanna know why I lost my religion. When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spoke as a child, understood as a child; but now I’m a man, I can’t. Got everything I ever prayed for when I realized I am my savior.”
Questioning the Bible
Staying true to the “Live From Fatherhood” theme, I not only share my religious journey with my kids but also enlighten them about their great-grandparents’ perspectives. “Everything I knew was Christian. My grandpaw, he was a preacher. My grandma, a Sunday school teacher.” In the second verse, I dive into a story from the Bible, specifically Adam and Eve.
I point out the oddities in the story and the questions it raised for me. I humorously highlight the mystery of Cain’s wife, which led me to seek knowledge and understanding. Turned to books and documents, trying to restore my withering faith while growing aware of the world around me. If there ever was a line that I was scared to say but amazed that it came to me, it’s “Oh my God, God is a fraud.”
Final Thoughts
In ‘Sunday School,’ I take you through the ups and downs of my relationship with religion, faith, and the pursuit of personal truth. It’s about questioning the beliefs I grew up with and finding peace in the realization that only I can be my savior.
While we all grapple with the concepts of salvation, I’m very aware that few people share similar views on religion. Considering my race, I’m in an even smaller minority. However, ‘Sunday School’ is gospel by definition – good news – an honest account that I hope resonates regardless of your religious orientation.
Sunday School lyrics
You’re the one. The one who can save. You’re the one. The one who can heal. You’re the only one. You’re the one who will.
Oh, I know what you are thinking but it ain’t gon be none of that shit. I am not religious. Well, I used to be but now I’m free. Ain’t no converting me back. I won’t be burden. In fact, I wont even step inside a church. No, am certain of that. Rather be crucified. Wait, how much you willing to pay? Maybe, I’ll step inside and listen to a couple dem lies. Can an amen?
Aye man, I remember when I used to be a believer. Jesus, I was so naive. To believe in him, why wouldn’t I be. You probably wanna know why I lost my religion. When I was a child, I thought as a child, I spoke as a child, understood as a child; but now I’m a man, I can’t. Got everything I ever prayed for when I realized I am my savior.
You’re the one (the only one). The one who can save (save). You’re the one (only one). The one who can heal (heal). You’re the only one (only one). You’re the one who will (will).
According to the Bible, Adam & Eve were created first. They had Cain & Abel. Cain killed Abel. 3 people left on Earth. Follow me? Cain was banished to Nod, a town East of Eden. Where he met his wife. Where this bitch come from? Ouu, I felt so dumb.
That’s when I really start researhing, hit the library, got the amplified version of the Bible. Any document I could get–to prove that it wasn’t a lie. Man, it couldn’t be.
Everything I knew was Christian. My grandpaw, he was a preach. My grandmaw, Sunday school teacher. Here I am disowning Jesus. After all these prayers, and searching for all these signs. You telling me, this whole time, Oh my God, God is a fraud. I was scared as hell. I mean, well, I didn’t know what to do. But I knew I couldn’t unlearn the truth. And, I tried.
You’re the one (the only one). The one who can save (save). You’re the one (only one). The one who can heal (heal). You’re the only one (only one). You’re the one who will (will).
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