Fragments of God

Clips, images torn

sounds of a broken horn

floating in my brain

they try in vain

to take human form 

a fragmented father

a forgotten god

erected for worship

an idol in the place of God

I speak to it, I give thanks to it

I even give my 10 percent to it

But like the idols of Baal

My prayer is to no avail

time after time I fail

and I’m left wondering if this lifeless idol even cares

But a lifeless god is safer than a living god right?

A lifeless god, I can control

I am free to be who I want to be

Free from the eyes of the divine always watching me

Free from a voice commanding me

Free from a presence that is surrounding me

I am free…right?

You see I sit in these pews

Get on my knees

Close my eyes and wish to see

This lifeless idol speak to me

To look at me

to comfort me

to fight for me

and die for me  

I squint harder try harder

But this darkness can’t get darker

I open my eyes and see a man

Standing in white with eyes of fire

He looks at me and says to me

Son I’ve sought for you

I’ve fought for you

And died for you

Open your eyes

And turn your ears

To the living God

Who casts your fears

Take my hand and follow me

And I will set you free. 

A Nazi's Pardon

I recently read an interview of a catholic priest. In it, the interviewer tries to stump the priest with this question: 

“So if a Nazi killed a Jew, a good Jew, practicing Jew, the Jew goes to hell, but the Nazi still has a chance to get to heaven?”

This question inspired me to give a response:

A Jew and a Nazi stand before Jesus. Jesus’ arms are stretched out with blood stained holes in his hands and scars on his back from the brutal floggings he received from the Roman soldiers. He looks upon both men with such compassion; looking beyond the atrocious sin both had committed in their lifetime. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords says as he thrusts his pierced hands before their eyes, “do you see these scars, these were not inflicted by the will of men, but my will alone, and that of my father. I stood before the ax, the cross, and the electric chair that was prepared for you, and I willingly bore your punishment. You see I was there when your cells and sinews were knitted together in your mother’s womb, I was there at the creation of the world. I knew the steps you would take, I knew the choices you would make, I knew the cost that would come in creating you, but I loved you so much that I paid it. The scars bore, the shame felt, were for you….” The Nazi overcome with the guilt of all the atrocities committed in his life, fell down at the feet of Jesus and wept. Jesus knelt down and with his arm on the Nazi’s shoulder and said, “son your sins are forgiven.” The Jew, filled with disgust for Jesus’ pardon of the Nazi, said to himself “I lived a good life, never harmed anyone, I followed the law, how is it that this man who committed such evil escaped the punishment he deserves!” Jesus turned to the Jew and said, “Son, you self righteous indignation has condemned you, in your heart you have rejected me”

I would ask the interviewer, “Which of these men should be granted eternal life with Jesus?  

The man who rejected Jesus' love and forgiveness?

Or

The man who received Jesus' love and forgiveness?  

Neither are no longer identified by their works, but instead their acceptance or rejection of Jesus.  

Salvation is not obtained by what we do, but by what Christ did, and that alone. The world has this perspective that Christianity is so exclusive, but in reality the world is exclusive in its rejection of Christ.”