Theocracy – I AM

Christian metal band Theocracy started in 2002 as a one-man wrecking crew, providing all the instruments and voices for their debut album Theocracy, evolving into a full-fledged band for albums and live performances.

Theocracy released four albums:

• Theocracy (2003)
• Mirror of Souls (2008)
• As the World Bleeds (2011)
• Ghost Ship (2016)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Theocracy-i-am-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

In the flood of text that is fifteen stanzas, Theocracy spends the majority of the song describing attributes that God is from His perspective.  Speaking for God is a very dangerous prospect which ought to handle with care. Old Testament prophets were killed for falsely speaking on God’s behalf.

Having said that, some of these statements include:

• Light
• Protector
• Foundation
• Life
• Living food/water
• Eternal
• Spirit
• Resurrection
• Love
• Convicter
• Sacrificial lamb
• Father who waits for children to repent
• Righteous
• Hope
• Chain breaker
• Consuming fire
• Triune
• Redeemer
• Messiah
• Sovereign
• Omnipotent
• Omniscient
• Humble
• Sin (that is, He became sin for us)

There is one statement that is unsupported by Scripture, that God is a “trusting child whose simple faith is ever sure”.  To what does God put His faith in, and in what sense could we call it “simple”?  Yet, this is a small bump in the road to an otherwise overwhelming, detailed description of who God is.

Score: 9/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Most of it agrees with the Bible; However, some of it is either not supported by Scripture or incomprehensible to me, making Scriptural evaluation elusive.

This song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure, except for the Chorus.  Therefore, I assigned stanzas to each paragraph, including the Chorus.

I hope that my formatting isn’t too confusing!

[Stanza 1]

Line 1: God is the light that drives the darkness out of us (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Line 2: When an artist paints a painting, they often attach a signature to ensure that those who see it will know who painted it.  In the same way, God’s mark, footprints, and signature are recorded throughout all creation, revealing His glory (Psalm 19:1-2 and Romans 1:19-20).

Line 3: God is our defense against spiritual attacks (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18).

Line 4: God is perfect (Leviticus 11:44-45, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 25:8, Psalm 92:15, Isaiah 26:7, Matthew 5:48, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19, Romans 12:1-2, and 1 Peter 1:16) and the foundation for our faith (Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 28:1, Psalm 62:2, Psalm 94:22, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:19, and 1 Peter 2:6).

[Stanza 2]

Lines 1 and 2: God is the bread of life that sustains our hungry souls (John 6:41).

Lines 3 and 4: Uses water/thirst imagery to make the same point as lines 1 and 2 (Jeremiah 17:13, Zechariah 14:8-9, John 4:7-26, John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-13, Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 7:13-17, Revelation 21:6-7, and Revelation 22:1-5).

[Stanza 3]

Line 1: Scripture pairs song and strength together when stating that God is their song (Exodus 15:2, Psalm 18:1-2, Psalm 118:14, and Isaiah 12:2).

Line 2: That is, God is the most important character in existence (Psalm 73:25-26, Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:26, John 12:25, Philippians 3:8, and 1 John 4:20).

Line 3: God’s Living Word ministers to us, helping us to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness to complete us.  It will not return void, accomplishing His purposes (Isaiah 55:11, Jeremiah 23:29, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and 1 Peter 1:23).

Line 4: Our lives are in God’s hands to do what He wishes with us (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

Line 5: God is truth (John 14:6).

Line 6: God knows all things (1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 139:4, Psalm 147:4-5, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 10:30, John 16:30, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, and 1 John 3:20).

Line 7: God’s existence is not physical, but spiritual (John 4:24).

NOTE: While it is true that God took on flesh in the person of Jesus (John 1:1, John 1:14, and Philippians 2:5-8), based on the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union, it is the God nature of Jesus that we cannot see or touch.

Line 8: Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  In the same way, God is the beginning and end of existence.  In other words, God is eternal (Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 48:12, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 21:6, and Revelation 22:13.).  Also, see Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13.

[Stanza 4 (Chorus)]

Line 1: See Stanza 3, line 7.

Line 2: God is:

• The resurrection and life (John 11:25)
• The doorway (John 10:9-10)
• The vine (John 15:1)

In other words, we depend on God to receive life, depending on Him for daily living.

Line 3: See Stanza 3, line 7.

Line 4a: See Stanza 2, lines 1 and 2.

Line 4b: God is the world’s light (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, Matthew 4:16, John 1:1-8, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:14, James 1:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, and Revelation 21:23) and existed before Abraham was (John 8:58).

[Stanza 5]

Line 1: To what does God put His “simple faith” as a “trusting child”?  He knows all things (see Stanza 3, line 6).  This statement doesn’t make sense.

Line 2: God’s love for us is like that of a parent for their child: invariable and unalterable (1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 89:2, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 117:1-2, Psalm 118:1-29, and Psalm 136:1-26, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Romans 8:38-39).

Line 3: God is faithful (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9).

Line 4: God rescues (Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18).

Line 5: See Stanza 4, line 4b.

Line 6: God convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

Line 7: God is the lamb who takes away our sins (Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, John 1:36, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:12, and Revelation 13:8).

Line 8: God patiently waits for us to repent (2 Peter 3:9), much like the prodigal’s father did (Luke 15:11-32).

[Stanza 6 (Chorus)]

Lines 1-4: Repeats Stanza 4.

[Stanza 7]

Line 1a: God is righteous (Exodus 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:4, Judges 5:11, 1 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Ezra 9:15, Nehemiah 9:8, Job 37:23, Psalm 7:11, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 11:7, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 35:24, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 48:10, Psalm 50:6, Psalm 65:5, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 103:6, Psalm 119:137, Psalm 71:19, Psalm 111:2-3, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 5:16, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 12:1, Lamentations 1:18, Daniel 9:14-16, Micah 6:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Zechariah 8:8, John 17:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 15:3).

Line 1b: God is the fourth person King Nebuchadnezzar saw in the fire (Daniel 3:24-25).

Line 2a: God gives life (Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:24-25, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 02:07, Genesis 09:09, Genesis 09:10, Ruth 4:13, 1 Samuel 02:21, Job 1:21, Job 33:04, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 071:06, Proverbs 22:02, Jeremiah 23:24, and John 10:10).

Lines 2b and 3: That is, Christ fulfills God’s promise of a Messiah to Israel.

Line 4: God breaks the bondage of sin (Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1).

Line 5: My best guess is that God is sovereign (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).  If anyone has a better interpretation, feel free to comment.

Line 6: God is the consuming fire, a metaphor described in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29.

Line 7: References the Trinity.

Line 8: God paid for our sins (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

[Stanza 8]

Line 1: That is, God is love (1 John 4:8).

Line 2a: See Stanza 3, line 8.

Line 2b: See Stanza 4, lines 2 and 4b.

Lines 3 and 4: See Stanza 7, lines 2b and 3.

[Stanza 9]

Line 1a: Stanza 3, line 8, and Stanza 8, line 2a.

Line 1b: God is in control (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).

Line 2a: All three persons of the Trinity are equal in their divinity.

Line 2b: Reason begets wisdom, which is acquired by fearing God (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, and Isaiah 33:6).

Line 2c: God’s convicts (John 16:8 and Hebrews 4:12).

[Stanza 10]

Line 1: See commentary on Stanza 1, line 2.

Line 2: Quotes from part of James 1:17.

Line 3: God seeks and saves that which is lost (Luke 19:10).

Line 4: God will lose none of His children (John 6:39).

[Stanza 11]

Line 1a: God is all-powerful (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25).

Line 1b: See Stanza 4, lines 2 and 4b.

Line 3c: That is, God’s love does not end. See Stanza 5, line 2.

Line 2a: God is just (Deuteronomy 10:18, Deuteronomy 32:4, Job 34:12, Psalm 9:7-8, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 140:12, Psalm 146:7, Isaiah 30:18, Isaiah 61:8, Romans 3:26, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25, and 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Line 2b: That is, God ‘s name is blessed (Psalm 113:2, Job 1:21, and Daniel 2:19-20).

Line 2c: See and Stanza 2, lines 3 and 4 and Stanza 7, lines 2b and 3.

Line 3a: Stanza 7, line 1a.

Line 3b: God is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, and 1 Peter 1:15-16).

Line 3c: God is not bound by anything or has an equal (Exodus 8:10, Exodus 9:14, Deuteronomy 3:24, Deuteronomy 33:26, Jeremiah 10:6, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 86:8, Psalm 89:6, Psalm 113:5-6, Jeremiah 10:7, Isaiah 40:18, and Isaiah 46:9).

Line 4a: See Stanza 9, line 1b.

Line 4b: See Stanza 5, line 3.

Line 4c: See Stanza 3, line 8.

Line 4d: Quotes from part of Exodus 3:14.  God is.  Period.

[Stanza 12]

Lines 1 and 2: Summarized by Philippians 2:5-8 in that God left His throne to become flesh, subjected to humility at the hands of evil men on the cross.  The crown of thorns is mentioned in Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, and John 19:1-3.

Lines 3 and 4: See note in Stanza 3, line 7, and Stanza 3, line 8.  God’s taking our curse can be found in Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13.

[Stanza 13]

Lines 1 and 2: God became sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21) and His blood washes away our sins (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Lines 3 and 4: Jesus said nothing while He was crucified (Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 27:32-37, Mark 15:22-25, Luke 23:33, and John 19:17-18), yet, He could have called legions of angels to rescue Him if He willed it (Matthew 26:53).

[Stanza 14]

Line 1: A covenant is a pact or an agreement between two or more people.  Covenants are something God makes, not who He is.

Line 2: See Stanza 13, lines 1 and 2.

Lines 3 and 4: See Stanza 7, line 8.

Line 5: That is, God is the reason for our existence.  He created us (Genesis 1:1, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 8:3-8, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 96:5, Proverbs 3:19, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 66:1-2, John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 4:11).

Line 6: That is, He saved us from our sins and into His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 7: See Stanza 7, line 2a.

Line 8: See Stanza 11, line 4d.

[Stanza 15]

Line 1: While the angels rejoice when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7 and Luke 15:10), there is nothing in Scripture that supports dancing.

Line 2: In what sense is God the sinner’s prayer itself?  This doesn’t make sense to me.

Line 3: God is the Lamb (see Stanza 5, line 7) that lays His life down for us on his accord (John 10:18).

Lines 4-6: God is hope (Psalm 71:5).

Line 7: See Stanza 11, line 4d.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

God is a huge list of things.  How much of it will they understand?  It’s easier to talk about what I suspect most will find difficult to interpret or understand without deeper research:

• That God cannot be seen or touched, yet, people saw and touched Jesus
• God is the resurrection, doorway, and vine
• Once again, the simple, trusting faith of a child
• Lamb of God understood to be Jesus
• God is the fourth person in the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
• God is the sinner’s prayer
• God is the covenant

While this is a large list, the rest of it is so vast, this only makes up a small portion of Theocracy’s overall message and song.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God in its many “I Am” statements, only a small portion is either Biblically unsupported or difficult to discern, adding a small blip to God’s inherent glory.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Theocracy’s I AM is mostly good.  It presents a flood of lines to describe the character and nature of God that glorifies God (and twice as long to review).  Only a small portion is not Scriptural or difficult to interpret for unbelievers, with a few lines that I can’t evaluate Scripturally.

It’s difficult to recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8.5/10

Artist Info

Track: I AM (listen to the song)

Artist: Theocracy

Album: As the World Bleeds

Genre: Hard Rock

Release Year: 2011

Duration: 11:00

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.