April 19-20, 2021

The Church Crowd

“The church crowd who say there is no persecution

but are the very people doing the persecuting.

Instead of comfort, criticism.

Instead of solidarity, solitude.

Instead of defense, denunciation.

They are worse than Job's comforters

for they will not even sit in mourning with you!”

(from a Facebook post)

I used to be on your side

have even defended you in verse

which, oddly, slipped right by you

(is praise unnoticed still praise?)

you may not have been virtue's paragon

but you did stand for Truth

I liked that,

you were bold, inspiring

you motivated me to be a better man

you were absolutely glorious

what happened to you

that you can now say such things

that you can now do such things

as you accuse others of doing

has the fact that we disagree

removed us from the body

even as you remain?

Somehow I am reminded of Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome: "Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience?" Romans 2:1-4