Poetry With A Mission



...a thought provoking poetical exercise.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Prov 14:12, NIV).

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God” (Gal 1:10, NIV).

“No one can serve two masters...” (Matt 6:24, NKJV).

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. …” (1 Cor 10:21, 
NIV).

“Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (1Cor 5:6, NIV).

“...let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe” (Heb 12:28).  Note Ps 89:7, KJV.

“I the Lord do not change…” (Mal 3:6, NIV)

“...You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue [image] that King Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire” (Dan 3:4-6).

“He [the angel] called out with a mighty voice, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!...For all the nations [political powers] have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication [a wrongful relationship. Only something of a religious nature, in biblical terminology, that is, would commit fornication. Worldly powers by their very nature are already corrupt]...Come out of her, my people, so that you don’t take part in her sins, and so that you do not share in her plagues …’ Then a mighty angel took a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘With such violence Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and minstrels and of flutists and trumpeters will be heard in you no more…and in you was found the blood of the prophets and saints...’ ” (Rev 18:2,3,4,21,22,24). 
Refer to Revelation chapters 13,14,17,18 and 19 in particular.

“And it was allowed to give breath to the image [Babylon] of the beast [a previous power] so that the image of the beast could even speak [through its laws and enactment’s] and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Rev 13:15).  Note John 16:2.

“And said to him, ‘Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark [of approval] on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it. Cut down old men, young men and young women, little children and women, but touch no one who has the mark. And begin at my sanctuary’ ” (Ezek 9:4,6).  Note Rev 7:3.

The two Babylon’s, compare —
Jer 51:13 with Rev 17:1.
Jer 51:8 with Rev 14:8.
Jer 51:45 with Rev 18:4.
Jer 51:60-64 with Rev 18:21-24.

A Certain Type Of Beat

I’m really quite perplexed, dear Lord, by a certain type of beat,
A beat that in a Christian church I never thought that I'd meet.
This beat that I’ve been hearing that's mostly played upon a drum-kit,
Has a rhythm that I’m sure cannot rightly ones worship fit.

And one reason that I say this is, because this type I hear
Daily on my radio via the sound waves that stations share.
This entertaining rhythm that they repeat throughout the day,
Seduces with its body stirring beat, leading folk astray.

This beat is so very common in the music of our day,
Its very earthly rhythm holding so many in its sway.
Thus, I guess it’s not surprising that in church it’s wanted too,
But given that worship’s Holy, how could such be right with You?

I’ve always understood, Lord, that our worship is just for You,
Therefore, why should we think that we can have our own way here too?
So surely when we’re worshiping we can forgo our own way,
Given that all You ask of us is only one worship day.

You showed Your great displeasure when the Israelites of old
Thought that wrong ideas of worship they could equally uphold.
So surely today, Lord, Your displeasure would be just as strong,
Should any Christian introduce what in worship would be wrong.

We’re told in Revelation of a Babylonian power,
That You'll very soon destroy, Lord, at Your second-coming hour.
And we’re told that its musicians receive the same destruction,
For presumably they aid this power in its corruption.

Now what I find so intriguing is, that Babylon of old
Also engaged musicians to aid its wrong; they brassy bold.
Thus out on the plain of Dura stood an image of its king, 
That all had to bow down to, or death on themselves they’d soon bring.

Now I’ve noticed there’s also an image in Revelation,
That all are forced to worship or face same extermination.
It seems it’s connected to the Babylonian power
Whose musicians will be destroyed at Your second-coming hour.

In the book of Revelation there’s another thing that’s said:
Christians should flee Babylon, correctly worship You instead.
This clearly shows that in Babyon Christians are residing,
And that those who choose to stay there, Your will won't be abiding.

And the reason that I mention all these things that I have here,
Is because this beat I’ve heard may well be Babylon’s, I fear.
So could it be that Babylon is religion gone astray,
Its music and musicians helping steer people Satan’s way?

Thus could Babylon be Christians who have made a compromise,
An alliance with the world that no true follower would prize?
And could Babylon be worship that is seeking its own way,
An erring, compelling movement that has universal sway?

You see, Earth’s history has shown much done in Your name was wrong,
And how apostasy has plagued Jews and Christians all along.
Therefore, I can’t help thinking, Lord, that this beat in church I hear,
Is rebellion’s End-time swan song, a sure sign Your coming’s near.

By Lance Landall


This poem was upgraded on the 11 May 2016.

Also check out my poem "It's not Just A Guitar," poem list.









Sources drawn from include —

"Music in the Balance" by Frank Garlock and Kurt Woetzel.
"Restoring True Worship" by Ruth Webb.

You may also like to read the poem "Trojan Horses, Golden Calves".