Poetry by Jake Gardner (Elder)
"Dost Thou Call Evil Good?"
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isa 5:20)
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"
(Rom 2:21-22)
We say that we love what God does love,
And, "Lo, children are an heritage," sent down from above;
Thus we run and slap red tape on our lips,
And abjectly oppose abortion clinics.
And while we condemn, are we to be judged?
Who have done all we can, lest children "happen" to us?
We may not shed blood, but we have the same spirit,
And so we have broken the second greatest commandment.
You see, "Christians" take pills, and wear contraceptives:
Don't you see how this behavior can be so deceptive?
Yes, "Christians" make plans, and have great procedures,
And the smartest among them make fabulous schedules!
O! you say that you trust God, yet take life in your hands,
And O! how you stand hard against "parenthood with a plan".
Do you see your hypocrisy when you condemned Tiller?
And looked not to yourself that YOU ARE THE KILLER?
Next, we read in the Scriptures, "No drunkard in heaven",
So we purge away our drinking parties, as Jews do the leaven.
Could this be all? could this be it?
Or was there something deeper spoken when heard in the Sp'rit?
"Something much deeper", is the answer replied,
"To be sober minded, lest at the gates you're denied".
From the fountains of this world, we've drunk with both hands,
We've listened, enjoyed, and fashioned ourselves to its bands.
And because we're so drunk with the spirit of this age,
We've somehow looked over "holy" written on every page.
Someday, God'll kill Ananias and Saphira,
And Nadab and Abihu that offered unto God their strange fire.
Because we are not sober, we're playing the fool,
Thinking, "Jesus is my homeboy" - he's just like me and you.
O! if the drunkard be damned, then you are in trouble,
Who are drunk with the world; your damnation is double!
Moreover, God said that, "Thou shalt not covet",
And O! how we flatter ourselves that we are above it.
But are there desires that cannot be bridled?
Then the Scriptures assure us that this is our idol.
"O! we'd never bow to gold, silver, or wood!"
But what about houses, lands, bank accounts, even food?
Are all things in life to you filthy refuse?
How you spend your thoughts, time, and money - these are the clues.
You live like Christ exaggerated when he spake that solemn line,
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," yet he gave no sign
That this was to be taken lightly, but rather with weight,
For how your life measures on judgment shall determine your fate.
The man of God said that he desired Christ only,
But when sundered from husband or friend, you are lonely!
You love TV, sports, movies - amusement!
The proof that Christ is not your life, dear friend, has been sent.
In closing, I'd speak a word to you who would justify
Yourselves saying, "Abortion, drunkenness, covetous deeds: it is not I".
But have you read carefully these various lines?
Each word would speak volumes if you'd only give time.
For what if God is desirous to show you your error?
And for some strange reason decided that I should be the news-bearer.
If this is the case, then take a moment to see
If God will reveal you to be in the truth, or show you you're deceived.
For you may not be guilty of murder; you say, "That's a fact".
But when the test showed a "positive" sign, how did you react?
Don't you see this disdain for the presence of another
Child is hatred, and like abortion, that's murder?
What about drunkeness? did you justify there?
Or when you read the third part, did you shrug off covetous behavior?
O! may God enlighten your eyes to see all your toys,
Your gadgets, your cars, your vain music - it's noise!
No, you may not watch the tele, but in sport you'll spend hours,
Or at the park with your friends - days spent, endless hours
On vanity, but will you see, you've sinned against God, and not against me!
Your hands are so bloody, yet you fancy them clean -
If this is the case, then nothing is true!
The grass is not green, the sky is not blue;
God is not holy, and you are still right;
Christ dwells in darkness, and the devil in light!
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isa 5:20)
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"
(Rom 2:21-22)
We say that we love what God does love,
And, "Lo, children are an heritage," sent down from above;
Thus we run and slap red tape on our lips,
And abjectly oppose abortion clinics.
And while we condemn, are we to be judged?
Who have done all we can, lest children "happen" to us?
We may not shed blood, but we have the same spirit,
And so we have broken the second greatest commandment.
You see, "Christians" take pills, and wear contraceptives:
Don't you see how this behavior can be so deceptive?
Yes, "Christians" make plans, and have great procedures,
And the smartest among them make fabulous schedules!
O! you say that you trust God, yet take life in your hands,
And O! how you stand hard against "parenthood with a plan".
Do you see your hypocrisy when you condemned Tiller?
And looked not to yourself that YOU ARE THE KILLER?
Next, we read in the Scriptures, "No drunkard in heaven",
So we purge away our drinking parties, as Jews do the leaven.
Could this be all? could this be it?
Or was there something deeper spoken when heard in the Sp'rit?
"Something much deeper", is the answer replied,
"To be sober minded, lest at the gates you're denied".
From the fountains of this world, we've drunk with both hands,
We've listened, enjoyed, and fashioned ourselves to its bands.
And because we're so drunk with the spirit of this age,
We've somehow looked over "holy" written on every page.
Someday, God'll kill Ananias and Saphira,
And Nadab and Abihu that offered unto God their strange fire.
Because we are not sober, we're playing the fool,
Thinking, "Jesus is my homeboy" - he's just like me and you.
O! if the drunkard be damned, then you are in trouble,
Who are drunk with the world; your damnation is double!
Moreover, God said that, "Thou shalt not covet",
And O! how we flatter ourselves that we are above it.
But are there desires that cannot be bridled?
Then the Scriptures assure us that this is our idol.
"O! we'd never bow to gold, silver, or wood!"
But what about houses, lands, bank accounts, even food?
Are all things in life to you filthy refuse?
How you spend your thoughts, time, and money - these are the clues.
You live like Christ exaggerated when he spake that solemn line,
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," yet he gave no sign
That this was to be taken lightly, but rather with weight,
For how your life measures on judgment shall determine your fate.
The man of God said that he desired Christ only,
But when sundered from husband or friend, you are lonely!
You love TV, sports, movies - amusement!
The proof that Christ is not your life, dear friend, has been sent.
In closing, I'd speak a word to you who would justify
Yourselves saying, "Abortion, drunkenness, covetous deeds: it is not I".
But have you read carefully these various lines?
Each word would speak volumes if you'd only give time.
For what if God is desirous to show you your error?
And for some strange reason decided that I should be the news-bearer.
If this is the case, then take a moment to see
If God will reveal you to be in the truth, or show you you're deceived.
For you may not be guilty of murder; you say, "That's a fact".
But when the test showed a "positive" sign, how did you react?
Don't you see this disdain for the presence of another
Child is hatred, and like abortion, that's murder?
What about drunkeness? did you justify there?
Or when you read the third part, did you shrug off covetous behavior?
O! may God enlighten your eyes to see all your toys,
Your gadgets, your cars, your vain music - it's noise!
No, you may not watch the tele, but in sport you'll spend hours,
Or at the park with your friends - days spent, endless hours
On vanity, but will you see, you've sinned against God, and not against me!
Your hands are so bloody, yet you fancy them clean -
If this is the case, then nothing is true!
The grass is not green, the sky is not blue;
God is not holy, and you are still right;
Christ dwells in darkness, and the devil in light!