Saturday, February 14, 2015

Fear is Their Message – v4

Fear is their message, of hate, of anger,
the burning cross their tool
setting divisions, setting them apart,
not drawing others to Christ
seeking to hurt, to harm
to intimidate our neighbors
those different from us

Nothing of the Christ
in burning a cross
in fear, intimidation,
nothing Christian in this,
in engendering fear in people
especially in the Deep South
where they live

Hate isn’t Christian
nothing of the real Jesus
the One who descended
from His throne, into our clay
becoming poor, emptied of heaven
who chose to walk as a man
to share God with us

Nothing of Jesus, our Savior
of the lamb, the sacrifice,
the One who told us to love as He did
who suffered, who died
bearing our cross, our shame
rising to give us life
to give us life again

We are to love one another
our sisters, our brothers
those unlike us, strangers
who were cast out, separate,
the least and the lost
even our enemies
those hated in this life

When hate claims Christ’s name
evil stalking, hurting His people
His ministry here, on this earth
the hope of the nations
God’s kingdom more distant
when Hate claims to be Christian
setting people apart

Nothing of Jesus, nothing Christian
no indication of love, of grace
in hate, injustice, racism,
in fear, intimidation,
in setting peoples apart
spreading division, anger
not spreading Christ’s love

We must stand with Jesus, now
against hate, injustice
to speak out against them
those burning that cross
for they are not Christian
not Christian in the least
seeking to hurt, to harm
to intimidate our neighbors
those different from us.

edited February 14, 2015
Fear is Their Message – v4

(editing original again)
edited October 31, 2014
Fear is Their Message – v3
(editing original again)
Edited November 21, 2013
Fear is Their Message – v2
edited July 4, 2012
changing the name to Fear is Their Message
edited July 4, 2012
changing the name to Hate isn’t Christian - 2
changing the name to “Nothing Christian”
edited July 4, 2012
When Hate Claims Christ’s Name – v2
When Hate Claims Christ’s Name
Written July 4, 2012
&
"All White Christian" convention being held in Lamar County this week
&
How the Christian Identity Movement Began
&
July 4, 2012
We Pray for Our Nation – v3
July 2, 2012
We Pray for Our Nation – v2
extract of Prayers of the People
second of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)
Call to Worship(Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)
Unison Prayer
Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)
(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)
Communion, UMH page 9
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!
by Raymond A. Foss
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
July 1, 2012
Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 35,890+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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