Come, Lord Jesus

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Come Lord Jesus
Andrew Peterson

(click on the title to hear the song! it's beautiful! )

Tonight in the line of the merchandise store
While they were packing up my bags
I saw the pictures of the prophets of the picket signs
Screaming, "God hates fags"

And it feels like the church isn't anything more
Then the second coming of the Pharisees
Scrubbing each other 'til their tombs are white
They chisel epitaphs of piety

Oh, there's a burning down inside of me
'Cause the battle seems so lost
And it's raging on so silently
We forget it's being fought
So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come Lord Jesus
Amen

It's taken me years in the race just to get this far
Still there is no end in sight,
There's no end in sight
'Cause I've carried my cross into dens of the wicked
And you know I blended in just fine

Well, I'm weak and I'm weary of breaking His heart
With they cycle of my sin, of my sin
Still He turns His face to me and I kiss it
Just to betray Him once again

Well, I've got oceans down inside of me
I can feel the billows roll
With the mercy that comes thundering
O'er the waters of my soul

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen

Tonight in the light of the gathering rain
I could hear creation groan
And a sigh rose up from the streets of the city
To the foot of Heaven's throne

Oh, and the people hear the sound of a sweet refrain
An absolution in the fray, in the fray
It tells of the death of the one for the lives of the many
More than any picket sign could say

So, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen
Oh, Amen
Come, Lord Jesus
Amen


There seems to be a very fine line between love and judgement in today's definition of 'Christian'. I'm as guilty as the next person of saying something before I think it through in light of Jesus. I'd like to submit the possibility that we can, indeed, LOVE the person, while still holding strongly to the moral guidelines that God has laid down for us in His Word. Because I disagree with someone - because I believe that they are wrong or sinful in their actions - doesn't mean for one second that I don't love them, and that I cannot reach out in that love to them. And I don't for half a second think that I am ANY better - I am just covered in the love and grace of Christ's precious healing, sacrificial blood!
This is something that I'm slowly but surely attempting to learn, even within the "walls of the church" - there are years of hurt to get over, but God hasn't given up on me yet, so I'll keep plugging away at it... it's just a constant struggle to remember - espec. when my (not-so-righteous) indignation gets the better of me... I should have one goal in mind - and hang the denominations and idiosyncrasies... My goal should be "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (I Cor. 2:2)!
I believe that if I teach my daughters nothing else, I MUST teach them that!