"The Church of Never Do That"

The members of "The Church of Never Do That"

Never speak in worship or allow idle chit chat

We've posted "The seven last words of church" on our door:

"We've never done it that way before"

The children who wiggle are thumped on the head

"You were told to sit still" the parents all said

Since church is an exercise of will o'er desire

Motivated by images of hell's burning fire.

The purpose of worship was long ago lost

On bottom line decisions of financial cost

So the people who come all dutifully obey

The tradition of praying the same prayer each time they pray

The praying is practiced with ne'er a mistake

A stutter would be tragic for heaven's sake!

And the order of worship has never changed

Since John Calvin approved how it's arranged

The ushers tuxedoed are stationed and trained

To keep out the coffee so the carpet's unstained

The hymns were written in catacombs long ago

And sung sans enthusiasm lest it become a big show

New music or clapping is never allowed

There's plenty of room since there's never a crowd

But the pews are assigned, so stuck in a rut

Each cushion is shaped like it's member's butt

The argument seems airtight for anyone who can see:

"If it was good enough for grandpa, it's good enough for me."

When the Bible is read with the Thees and the Thous

All feign engagement with deep furrowed brows

And the preaching is done with an emphasis on sins

All remain silent with no shouts or "Amens"

New people they want to sit in the pews

To hear their dull version of the Good News

But strangers are a terror, utterly feared

Especially the one with long hair and a beard

But just such a one came every week

To find the lost hearts, his kingdom they seek

Lost hearts aplenty he found in the nave

Hibernating spiritually like bears in a cave

So Sunday after Sunday he'd head down the street

To see who he'd find and who he would meet

Though meet them is really not what he would do

For their name, heart and hurts he already knew

Some members of "The Church of Never Do That"

Wanted what he offered but their courage was flat

Too worried to look religious, too worried to look weird

So they kept their hearts shut to the guy with the beard.

A meeting was called and a motion was made

Where a political ploy was skillfully played

To change church policy to eliminate...change

Since stability is preferred to the new and the strange

The vote was unanimous, well...minus one

That long-hair bearded guy some call God's Son

Some shouted "Democracy rules! There's nothing more to do"

Isn't that Gospel? Somewhere in Matthew?

You may be a member of "The Church of Never Do That"

If you'd defend your preferences in ecclesial combat

And use words like "my church" as if were true

That you atoned and ransomed it with your blood and sinew

The long hair bearded man still comes to that church

Expecting some may begin (heaven forbid!) a spiritual search

Beyond the traditions, the hymns, and their by-law

Where the deepest of hungers and the questions still gnaw

Perhaps they will look through the stained glass scene

Of Jesus declaring the leper was now clean

Where outside the window the world buzzes by

Too busy to slow down, too frightened to cry

The empty expressions and the desperate need

From the diet of death on which they all feed

If "The Church of Never Do That" opened wide

And the people in the pews ever ventured outside

They would find something amazing, too powerful to contain

The message so simple, so pure and so plain

The life and the blessing, the Good News and grace

The people inside forgot in their unchanging place

God never, no never said "Thou shalt not Change"

Nor never has God ever left us estranged

Except when we grip tightly our fear and our pride

Strangling and suffocating, our trust slowly died

Our concrete and mortar so carefully maintained

Our coffers and endowments are slowly being drained

To paint and repair, replace and update

We fret and we fight as we carry the freight

Of deception in believing that we're faithful and true

As we honor our ancestors from 1802.

The buildings we build are not the Church of the One

The church is the people who work till the work is all done

Telling each person regardless of race,

No matter their language or color of face

Showing them kindness and lifting them up

Sharing the bread and offering the cup

So change will happen no matter the rules

For doing the same thing forever is only for fools

Come be part of "The Church of Never the Same"

For it’s filled with the people given a new name

They're grateful and giddy and filled with good news

Going beyond the doors, stained glass and the pews.

They find its a mystery as they let go

When they love their neighbor they're filled with a glow

When the give up their treasures they are blessed and renewed

Something that never happens when we fight and we feud.

And the long-hair bearded man looks on with a smile

As cheeks are turned twice and we go the extra mile

For no one is judged, since that's losing the game

Only loved by the Church of Never the Same

© 2017 Stephen Carl