Mercy, not sacrifice
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:47 pm"Lord," I said, "I want to be your man, not my own. So to you I give my money, my car -- even my home."
Then smug, and content, I relaxed with a smile
And whispered to GOD, "I bet it's been a while
Since anyone has given so much--so freely!"
He answer surprised me. He replied, "Not really.
"Not a day has gone by since the beginning of time,
That someone hasn't offered meager nickels and dimes,
Golden alters, and crosses, contributions and penance,
Stone monuments and steeples; but why not repentance?
"The money, the statues, the cathedrals you've built,
Do you really think I need your offerings of guilt?
What good is money that's meant only to salve
The hurting conscience that so many of you have?
"Your lips know no prayers, your eyes no compassion.
But you will go to church (when churchgoing's in fashion)
"Just give me a tear, a heart ready to mold,
And I'll give you a mission, a message so bold--
That a fire will be stirred where there was only
death,
And your heart will be flamed by my life and my
breath"
I stuck my hands in my pockets and kicked at the
dirt.
It's tough to be corrected (I guess my feelings were
hurt)
But it was worth the struggle to realize the thought
That the Cross isn't for sale and Christ's blood
can't be bought.
(excerpt from "On the Anvil")
Then smug, and content, I relaxed with a smile
And whispered to GOD, "I bet it's been a while
Since anyone has given so much--so freely!"
He answer surprised me. He replied, "Not really.
"Not a day has gone by since the beginning of time,
That someone hasn't offered meager nickels and dimes,
Golden alters, and crosses, contributions and penance,
Stone monuments and steeples; but why not repentance?
"The money, the statues, the cathedrals you've built,
Do you really think I need your offerings of guilt?
What good is money that's meant only to salve
The hurting conscience that so many of you have?
"Your lips know no prayers, your eyes no compassion.
But you will go to church (when churchgoing's in fashion)
"Just give me a tear, a heart ready to mold,
And I'll give you a mission, a message so bold--
That a fire will be stirred where there was only
death,
And your heart will be flamed by my life and my
breath"
I stuck my hands in my pockets and kicked at the
dirt.
It's tough to be corrected (I guess my feelings were
hurt)
But it was worth the struggle to realize the thought
That the Cross isn't for sale and Christ's blood
can't be bought.
(excerpt from "On the Anvil")
