"Scoffers"

I’ve seen what’s wrong for many years,

I’ve preached against it, too,

Religious nonsense run on fears,

And anything but true.

I’ve worked inside church systems long,

I’ve worked outside as well,

Even though I saw the wrong,

And was not afraid to tell,

The truth in love as best I could,

And honestly sincere,

Did the things I thought I should, 

And held to Scripture dear.

But I will say without reserve,

I’ve felt offense of late,

I wonder at the critics’ nerve,

Their love for harsh debate.

To paint with broad and sweeping brush,

The way things ought to be,

Dismiss the work in quite a rush,

How others served you see.

No need to defend anything,

The Lord assigns us to,

But sometimes just beats everything,

What scoffers say and do.

God has His people everywhere,

The Church He builds is strong,

Hell can’t stop it, be aware,

Defends it all along.

Not a building, not a place,

But folks gathered in His name,

Together bound to seek His face,

And live for Jesus’ fame.

Reformers needed, this is true,

Lukewarm need not apply,

But Spirit-led in what we do,

With His help we will try.

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:7-8, NKJV)

We live in a very critical, argumentative world. We have grow skeptical of anything the government, news outlets, or social media tell us. Many have become very critical of the church, and anything that resembles “organized” ministry. This skepticism is well-founded in some cases, but we must be careful not to get caught up in the contentious spirit of the age. It is very easy to point out what’s wrong with anything, including the church. On the other hand God is committed to working through His people in multiple places and approaches. None are perfect but few are completely irrelevant. God is still building His church, dispite the scoffers. And it’s not our job to correct them.

Lord, build Your church, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mary Ross Buchholz, used by permission. Thanks, Mary, and God bless you.