sacred strokes

I felt like a poem today.  This is based on personal reflection about my own tendencies, as well as just thoughts and observations about what I see as an unfortunately common theme among some Christian churches these days.  Hope you enjoy it!

 

Can I explain to anyone? Maybe they can relate or understand

How I’d warped my way of thinking, for it was not what I had planned.

I don’t know how I got there; something must have gone so wrong –

It didn’t happen overnight, but was a road I’d traveled for so long.

I used to be devoted to the One whose way is true;

I knew He’d saved me and that following Him is what I wanted to do.

I loved His Word, His voice, His lessons even when they weren’t fun

Because I knew that when it came to being more like Him, I’d only just begun.

There were some who wanted to know more about His saving grace,

So I spoke about His love and forgiveness, with a smile on my face.

I noticed they enjoyed hearing about all the nice things – all the feel-good positive,

So I soon stopped talking about the other, harder ways in which He calls us to live.

I started talking more about His endless mercy, love, and acceptance,

And how we, too, should possess such traits, (but I stopped mentioning repentance.)

I became pretty good at living these out, or in my mind at least,

But soon even the Lord’s commandments were in my memory decreased.

Offending someone became my biggest fear, for what if they forsook the Lord?!

(Though now I know that it was more about myself, and I took it overboard.)

I began repeating only the scriptures which I knew others would like,

Such as “judge not, lest you be judged,” and reveled in my popularity spike.

I became too accepting, so forgiving, yet so afraid

That I couldn’t speak the truth in love, even when another strayed.

Instead, I rebuked myself, focusing on my plank rather than their speck,

(But if I’m honest it’s because I didn’t want them to get upset, even if they were a wreck.)

I told myself it was my goal to spread the gospel, to help others meet the Man.

I forgot that salvation is the beginning of our journey, and not just the end plan.

I closed my eyes, chose blindness, acted like I couldn’t see

The problems and issues all around, or even inside of me.

“God’s got me covered,” I told myself, “Why should I make a hard change?

This life is mine for me to control, to plan and rearrange.”

I lost direction because I no longer had anything on which to stand.

I couldn’t address others, or even confront myself, with God’s requests and commands.

All was willy-nilly, no one wrong and no one right.

There was no longer any color, just a gray, no black or white.

It was in this darkness, fogginess, that I seemed to stay for many years,

When I heard a voice approaching that brought me right to tears.

He told me He could make me see, to know which way was up and which was down

He knew my story, but could bring back all the colors, and turn my life around.

I believed and when His hands touched my eyes, instantly I could see

And He told me that it was my faith which had served to set me free.

I didn’t know how to thank Him, or even where to begin;

When He looked at me square in my eyes and said “Now, go and no longer sin.”

I had heard similar stories about His forgiveness and His healing

But it was that last part that struck me, and sent my brain fast-reeling.

Had I forgotten that even demons and Satan know that Jesus is God’s Son?

It’s about more than that – it’s about fighting the good fight and joining in the run.

We are told that many can run a race but only one wins the prize –

How had I been living, if I looked at myself through God’s eyes?

Had I forgotten that being a disciple involves suffering and sacrifice?

Had I forgotten that it’s not about being afraid to be seen as offensive or not nice?

Jesus was laughed at, mocked, scorned, hated, and many wanted Him dead

Because rather than being scared to rock the ship, He spoke only truth instead.

I somehow got so wrapped up in that feel-good, fluffy feeling of God’s love

That I forgot about His refining fire and expectations placed on us from above.

There are standards He has set for us, and I’ve learned that it’s okay

To acknowledge the flaws in myself, or to help another correct her way.

Jesus is kind, forgiving, merciful – His love it knows no bound,

But He is also righteous, and has rules which we can’t talk our way around.

We don’t like hearing or speaking about things like conviction, sin, or hell,

But Jesus alluded to those often in the stories He would tell.

I guess I lost my way a bit; I wasn’t ready for the surrender.

I called myself a Christian, but I was more like a pretender.

I confess that I’d merely been lukewarm, but perhaps you can relate –

Have you slowly gone astray from His path, from that small and narrow gate?

Have you been sucked into believing that what’s wrong is okay or even right?

Tell Jesus you’re ready to trust in all He says, to fight in His good fight.

I love the Lord, my Best of friends, the ultimate Offender,

For any changes that He makes in us are only leading to His splendor.

 

“ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” – Revelation 3:15-19

-HLC