faith unfaded

I was 13 when Amy Grant’s Age to Age album came out. I listened to it on repeat for years, especially when I’d find myself running back to the Lord after falling away.

Many of the songs on that album were uplifting… some, yearning… others, repentant. They mirrored my own faith journey with heartfelt precision.

But one was just funny. To me, Fat Baby was a picture of a grown-up Augustus Gloop. It had a message, but it was mostly lighthearted comic relief.

Until I listened to it again as an adult.

Fat Baby is a catchy ditty that almost masquerades as a throwaway track, but packs a punch. It is the tale of a Christian who enters the door of salvation and refuses to go any further.

Is it truly a life in Christ when it’s all for show? You may be fooling those in the pews around you, but you aren’t fooling God.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21

What is your tongue saying? Is it saying something different on Sundays than it does the rest of the week?

A mature Christian grows as he walks in faith daily. An immature Christian only walks on Sundays… or when he needs God’s help.

Are you a full-time follower of the Lord… or a part-time Christian? Are you a Fat Baby?

Fat Baby (Amy Grant, 1982)

I know a man, maybe you know him, too
You never can tell; he might even be you
He knelt at the altar, and that was the end
He’s saved, and that’s all that matters to him
His spiritual tummy, it can’t take too much
One day a week, he gets a spiritual lunch
On Sunday, he puts on his spiritual best
And gives his language a spiritual rest
He’s just a faaa…
He’s just a fat little baby!
Wa, wa, waaaaa…
He wants his bottle, and he don’t mean maybe
He sampled solid foods once or twice
But he says doctrine leaves him cold as ice

He’s been baptized, sanctified, redeemed by the blood
But his daily devotions are stuck in the mud
He knows the books of the Bible and John 3:16
He’s got the biggest King James you’ve ever seen!
I’ve always wondered if he’ll grow up someday
He’s momma’s boy, and he likes it that way
If you happen to see him, tell him I said,
“He’ll never grow, if he never gets fed”
He’s just a fat, fat, fat, fat, fat, fa-at, fat…
Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fa-at, Fat…
Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fat, Fatttt…
Baby…

https://youtu.be/iSi9A_tzkfY?si=B41dSoQgscquBEje