I didn't write this poem, but think it is awesome. A friend sent it to me yesterday.
If Jesus was an elder
If Jesus was an elder, what would be his main concern?
The hours on your service report? That pioneer title you earn?
Would he spend all of his energy on those who want to stay?
or would he kindly help the sheep who have seemed to go astray?
Would he joke and laugh about those who’ve fallen into sin?
Or would his love and compassion try to win them back again?
Let’s go back in time now, to when the lord was here.
Would things have been different, if he was an elder or pioneer?
Or even just a publisher or ministerial servant too.
If things had been different, would it matter much to you?
Would he have been approachable for ones who’ve fallen into sin?
Or would he shame and humiliate so you couldn’t approach him again?
Would he have spent so much time with children by his side?
Or would he fear how it would look to those judging from inside?
When they beckoned to be near him, did he get angry or upset?
Did he say, “I’m too busy. I’ve not finished my public talk yet.”
Or, “let the young ones come to me. I want to hug and bless them.
The kingdom is for such like ones, to enter, be just like them.”
Would he have raised up Lazarus from his death on the fourth day?
Or would he say “Why bother? I was going to do it on the last anyway.”
When Mary Magdaline washed his feet with heartfelt shedding tears,
and with her hair she made them dry while his apostles spoke in jeers.
Did he join them in rebuking her and making her feel worse?
Or did he look with eyes of love and tell her of her worth?
When the rich man asked to follow him, what did Jesus say?
“Give all your belongings to the poor, and follow me today.”
No thoughts of a fine new Bethel home, all that money would buy.
Or Brooklyn Hotel buildings that tower in the sky.
He saw the plight of the poor, a sight that broke his heart.
It was now, not the new system, for charity to start.
Would he have told the sinner “You’ll be with me in paradise”
or would he turn disgusted saying “you don’t deserve the prize.
you celebrate the holidays, you say “god bless you” when one sneezes
you celebrate your loved ones birth, do you think you really please us?
you were never even baptized, nor any meetings did you go
you didn’t take my magazines, which really hurt, you know.”
Jesus taught us not to judge, back then as well as today.
But when you consider your brothers and sisters, what does he hear you say?
“He doesn’t seem very spiritual, he misses a meeting a week.
When it’s time for us to comment, so seldom does he speak.
I can’t believe she’d wear her skirt an inch above her knee.
Next she’ll be showing cleavage for all the world to see.
“And what about that brothers hair, I think it’s much too long.
He’ll never be a publisher, he’ll never quite belong.
I know Jehovah loves me more, for years I’ve been pioneering.
Besides, I hear great gossip there, so I know from who to be steering.
“Or what about that elders wife? The one that drinks too much?”
If “loving help” is what they give, why didn’t they give her such?
Why did they let it continue, as we despaired at her decline?
Perhaps there are two standards, one for yours, and one for mine.
You may feel very comfortable in what you call your “true religion”
with all its’ titles and its rules, customs and positions.
Its vast amounts of real estate - as a blessing from Jehovah,
While your own struggle waiting for this system to be over.
We may look foreward to our prize, in heaven or on earth.
But without true love for fellow man, what is our service worth?
Did our savior suffer torture and shed his blood for us to live,
so when we fell short of His glory, first the elders must us forgive?
Why is His blood not good enough when we’ve fallen into sin?
You elders, think about that, before you judge again.
You think it is your duty, to judge others for your God.
But are you really walking, in the shoes your master trod?
Marilyn (a.k.a. Mulan)