“There’s no one good in this whole church.”
That’s what I said, to myself first, after we left a certain church service in a place that will remain unnamed here. And then I said it out loud to Elgielene. And she agreed with me.
I know that sounds harsh. But it’s true. And the reason it even came up is because of how there was such a message of human goodness that permeated the whole place. From the praise and worship time, to the sermon, to the small conversations during the exit. So much back patting. So much focus on self and image. And actual praise and worship and acknowledgment of what Jesus did for us was almost nonexistent.
Tragically, that church was not an exception. I wish I could say that it wasn’t the norm. But that IS the norm in “churches” these days. And I put that word in quotation mark because I don’t think of them as churches anymore. I believe they are just places of business where you can go for your once a week TED talk. And I’ve been saying that for a long time.
It gives me no pleasure to share this.
But those buildings fill up with people who forgot that Jesus said there is no one good.
Sure, they give the impression that they are all brothers and sisters. And they love sharing the feel good messages. Plus many of them love to talk about all the good deeds they do in the community. But Jesus is more of an afterthought.
Several times on social media I’ve seen Christians mention how if the apostle Paul was alive, a lot of churches would be getting a letter. On the surface that sounds a little bit humorous. But it’s a terrible commentary on what has happened to the Christian worldview right here in the good ol’ American land ‘o plenty.
I’ve talked about this for a long time. In fact, a dozen years ago, I wrote some sarcastic lyrics for a song I never got around to producing or recording. And I know you won’t like these lyrics, because they’re not nice. They don’t lift people up and get anybody in a good mood. And it might be impossible to find any redeeming value to them. But here they are. For no one good. Feel free to ignore them and wait for me to get in a better mood to share my more optimistic stuff next time…
With Brotherly Love
What would be so wrong
If I didn’t sing my song…with brotherly love?
Would it be unfair
If I didn’t even care…with brotherly love?
No one does these days,
Everyone just stays
In their old, familiar ways.
That’s how it should be.
If we all agree,
It all can be so easy.
What would be so bad
In not sharing what I had…with brotherly love?
Would I be a thug
If I didn’t want to hug…with brotherly love?
Just some silly rules
Taught in Christian schools
By a bunch of simple fools.
That stuff’s not for me.
Can’t you let me be?
Go shake another fruit tree.
Hey there, do you know?
Where did all those people go…with brotherly love?
I can’t find them here.
Did they all just disappear…with brotherly love?
Things don’t seem quite right…
Especially at night
And no one has a bright light.
Hopeless life lines drawn…
Hard to carry on…
Because all the love is gone. © 2014 TF
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