How easy it is for us to bask in the churchy atmosphere we have become comfortable with while those around us are hurting on the inside! Please don’t get mad at me if any of the situations below ‘hit a nerve’ with you.
No denomination gets it completely right, so if you recognise an allusion to a certain type, don’t have a dig at them. We are all imperfect sinners saved by grace, who have at one time or another, put somebody off following Jesus because of our silly rules or obstinate religious decisions.
I’m sure that like me, you will want to take a serious look at where improvement is needed in your own surroundings and mindset, so that new people coming into our churches and existing ones who are feeling isolated, will receive the best welcome and love we can give – one which will make them feel accepted, embraced and drawn into the family we are already a part of. A family where they can get to know the Father really well.
*****
I Know a Sinner
I know a sinner
Who dared to enter.
He took a seat,
Right in the centre.
Someone came up and said,
“I do not approve,
You’re in my chair,
So you’ll have to move.
To get a prophecy
Is my ambition,
So I need to sit
In the right position.
I’ve been praying for
A mighty break-through,
So, I need to be
In the preacher’s view.
*****
I know a sinner
Who can’t use his limbs.
He’d love to come in
And sing a few hymns.
The building is placed
Above the ground floor,
With seventeen steps
Up to the front door.
They said, “Your chair’s too cranky,
For all this ‘wheeling’.
Can’t you go to a church
That believes in healing?
It’s far too big
And marks everything it touches.
Come back when you can manage
With a nice pair of crutches.
*****
I know a sinner
Who has four little boys.
They like to be active
And make lots of noise.
The people got annoyed
As they played on the floor.
“Yes” They exclaimed,
“What shall we do with these four?
We’re a family church
And we stick by that rule,
But no-one feels called
To teach ‘Sunday School’.
There’s no time to prepare
Lessons in the week,
Our kids are all grown-up,
So, we lack the technique.
Acting-out plays
Makes us feel a fool,
And singing kiddie songs
Is very uncool.
*****
I know a sinner,
Whose ear-drum is broken.
He can’t hear a sound
When words are spoken.
Thousands of deaf people,
Live in our nation.
They come to church needing
Sign interpretation.
“That man stands up
And twitches his hand,
But fidgety people,
I cannot stand.
This communication
Makes me agitated.
Why is their language
So animated?
We are not ashamed of them,
So, we make no remark,
But we’d prefer it if they sat
At the back in the dark.”
*****
I know a sinner
Who walked in with no hat.
They said, “You can’t join us
Looking like that!”
Take off your trousers,
My feelings are hurt,
For that’s man’s apparel.
You should be wearing a skirt!
Your clothes are shabby,
Your scarf is shedding.
You need to dress like
You’re a guest at a wedding.
Show us you’re holy,
By looking morose.
A smile is okay,
But don’t get too close.
We don’t like to hear
A sound out of dames.
Ditch your bible unless,
It’s endorsed by King James.”
*****
I know a sinner
Who could sell any drug.
He made lots of money.
It made him quite smug.
He read the Bible one day
And became a new man.
Jesus had changed him,
Like only he can.
But no-one in church,
Was impressed with his past.
Some even hinted
His new life would not last.
Lonely and confused,
He said, “God cannot love me.”
So, he swallowed a tablet
Engraved with an ‘E’.
(We pointed the finger
With gossip and chatter.
He died while we fussed
Over things that don’t matter)
*****
I know a sinner
Who goes ballistic
When the lights are beaming.
It’s because he’s autistic.
The flashes and colours
Intensity of light,
Means some places are torture,
For it feels too bright.
These sensory issues
Are then made worse,
When the congregation
Are uncaring and terse.
The sound of voices
Chatty and verbose,
Makes him feel that people
Are sitting too close
“If the room’s too loud
We really don’t care.
Go buy some headphones
Or plug your ear.”
They are not being awkward
Or fussy, you scorner,
They just need to worship
In a shady, calm corner.
*****
I know a sinner
Who was very skilled,
At ordering Christians
To be tortured and killed.
He met God and repented,
Said, “What do I do now?
You want to use me,
My question is how?
Meeting Ananias,
Put an end to his search.
He was accepted at once
By this man from the church.
*****
I know a sinner
Who could be the next *Paul.
He has the potential
To fulfil his high call.
Lord, help us realise
That this may depend,
On whether we’re prepared,
To be his good friend.
That we don’t go to church
For ourselves alone,
People need to feel
They have found a home.
Of this one thing,
We can be assured.
We would still be lost,
If we’d been ignored.
(*St Paul wrote many of the New Testament Bible books, but previously to this, he had many Jesus followers murdered at his command because he misunderstood their faith.)
“Therefore, continue to accept and welcome one another just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of our great God.” (Romans 15:7)
