Monday, October 20, 2014

REFORMATION (Matthew 22:34-46)

REFORMATION  (Matthew 22:34-46)





I’VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE REFORMATION

THE MORNING STARS THAT PRECEDED IT

LIKE HUS AND WYCLIFFE

ABOUT NOBLES WHO KEPT A HOUSE PRIEST
WHO AFTER DALLYING WITH THEIR MISTRESS
WOULD CONFESS
 BE RIGHT AGAIN

ABOUT HOW MANY MOVEMENTS
BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
CALLED FOR ITS RETURN
TO EARLY POVERTY

SO THAT CHURCH LIFE
MIGHT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE  
PEOPLE’S LIFE

AND BE TAUGHT THEM IN A LANGUAGE
THEY COULD UNDERSTAND

BUT AFTER THE BREAK
ARE WE ANY BETTER

DO WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
AS OURSELVES
IF HE IS DIFFERENT

IN FAITH
RACE
NATIONALITY

DO WE PREACH LOVE
 PRACTICE HATRED

IF CHRIST CAME
WOULD WE KILL HIM FOR BEING A JEW

AS WE KILLED SIX MILLION CHRISTS

AND THE CHURCH WAS SILENT

 MILLIONS OF AFRICANS
ARE DYING NOW
SO FEW CARE

WE’D RATHER INVADE A COUNTRY FOR OIL

BUT WHEN CHURCH AND STATE ARE JOINED
WE HAVE LUTHER BETRAYING THE PEASANTS

OR COUNSELING THE PRINCE
TO PRACTICE ADULTERY
QUIETLY

AND FINALLY
AGREEING TO DIVORCE

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BROKEN LANDSCAPE
OF THE CHURCH

EACH ONE LOOKING AT THE SHATTERED SHARD
OF THE MIRROR

SAYING
THEIRS IS THE TRUE REFLECTION

HOW MANY FACES HAS THE TRUTH

BUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING
WE’VE HAD DISSENSION

WE’VE HAD
PAUL VERSUS PETER
JEW VERSUS GENTILE
PURE VERSUS IMPURE FOOD

WOULD NOT A BETTER LITMUS TEST BE
NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE
BUT WHAT WE DO

DOES KNOWING THE HYPOSTATIC UNION
MAKE ONE HOLY
IS IT NOT BETTER
TO LIVE THE WORD


AND WHAT IS THAT WORD
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

LOVE GOD
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
THE REST IS COMMENTARY

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