Christianity by name (Joseph K Stephen 6 April 2007)

 

All smiles,

No trials,

No empathy,

No sympathy,

You pour out your heart,

They'll pray for you.

 

Prayer is the modern excuse for inaction.

No practical help, just a verbal reaction.

From meeting to meeting,

From sermon to sermon,

thinking they’re doing God's work,

Forever learning.

 

Prayer is powerful,

Don’t get me wrong

And God answers prayer

Of the faithful one.

But God gives his children responsibility

And He'll do the things which are beyond our ability.

 

We study God's word to put into action

The faith and the love, to show true religion.

It’s not just to listen and analyse

While others need help and agonize:

The orphan, the widow,

Deaf, blind or lame,

The struggling, the weak

With a flickering flame.

 

There are those who are persecuted

For doing God's will.

There are those who are isolated

Or continually ill.

There are others who through no fault of their own

Suffer depression, forever alone.

 

Then there are those who are ever so strong

Who never have hardship or feel alone.

To them the road is ever so smooth

Promising help is the extent of their love

When it comes to the crunch it’s too often the same,

They’re only words, Christianity by name.

 

Have you ever noticed who lends the hand?

The ones who have suffered, who understand.

The ones whom themselves, are struggling along,

They recognize need requires more than a song.

They give what they can from what little they have

And though it’s not much, it’s given in love.

 

Even The Lord washed His disciples’ feet

And talked to others whom no-one would greet.

He touched the leper, held the small child,

Had compassion on those whom had been left defiled.

He gave up His life, answered the call.

He lived what He preached, a servant of all.

 

I urge you oh brethren by the mercies of God

Consider the ways, of your Master and Lord,

A visit, some time, a practical hand,

Christianity would awaken in this desert land.

Its more than just meetings or you meet in vain

Its action or its only Christianity by name.