Preaching to the Pews

I don't know just how you feel or if you share my views

But I am tired of exhorting the choir and preaching to the pews

I am weary of humoring the teary and babying the children of God

Fearing the worst and the feelings that's hurt and forgetting to greet all with a nod.

The Church has drowned herself in the Word and still her soul is not wet

But dry as a bone as she looks for her own and grasping to get all she can get

All our sermons and all our songs are to build us up and right our wrongs

To bring us peace and make us feel well and outside our doors the world's going to hell.

Our altar calls go mostly unanswered cause everyone there is saved

And outside our doors they are fighting for more and rushing still lost to their graves

We are equipped and we've been taught for years in the Spirit's school

To do the works of Him who died but most of us live like we're fools.

We're soft and plump and full of milk, we tolerate no meat

We rebuke chastisement and receive no word unless we deem it sweet

How long has it been since a beggar came in and asked for an answer to prayer?

The truth is, you know, not many come, so, we've got to get up and go to them out there!

The sick need the doctor, the hungry need food

They are crying and dying while we deal with our moods

They are naked and destitute and thirsting for water

Running from God with no one running after.

I know this is a hard word and not easy to receive

But this is how I feel inside and this is what I believe

Our time to work is running out, the day is turning dark

We've got to forget about ourselves and the longings of our own hearts.

And put them first, those who do not know

The way to live, the way to go

They have no hope, they cannot cope with the shock and awe to come

The hell on earth, the hell below, while we Christians all go home.

We cannot forget the reason He died and rose again for all

He did it to save lost humanity who lost it in the Fall

We simply cannot be detoured by wishes and riches and "what could have been"

If we're not rewarded here in this life then we'll be rewarded then.

I have no doubt that God's desire is to bless us beyond our dreams

But we can't keep our eyes on that and ignore the children's screams

We were lost, once, just like them and going to our grave

But now we're safe and smug and forget what it's like to be unsaved.

I don't want to stand before Jesus one day and give my account as a man

To see in His eyes all my excuses and lies and my brother's blood there on my hands

Like Jesus, we must go out there 'cause they're not coming here

The line's been drawn and we're all held on our respective sides by fear.

The Church is out there in the streets

And they're waiting for Good News

It's time to stop exhorting the choir

And preaching to the pews.

by Rhonda Jackson July 10, 2004