Poetry With A Mission



...a thought provoking poetical exercise.

“ ‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal [devoted] to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [there is no neutral position]’ ” (Matt 6:24, NKJV).

“Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were pleasing people, I would not be a servant of God” (Gal 1:10).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom 1:18, ESV).

“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths” (2 Tim 4:3,4).

“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence but a false witness utters deceit” (Prov 12:17, ESV).

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed!” (Gal 1:8, ESV).

“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3).

“There is a way that seems right to a man [consciously chosen], but its end is the way to death” (Prov 14:12, ESV).

“ ...but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Rom 14:13, ESV).

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day or night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silent” (Isa 62:6, KJV).

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” (2 Tim 2:15, KJV).

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded” (Rom 16:17,18).

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy [false philosophy] and empty deceit [exaltation of man], according to human tradition [a human instead of divine source], according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ” (Col 2:8).

“...teach what is consistent with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).

 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness!” (Isaiah 5:20, KJV). 

“…‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand’ ” (Matt 12:25, ESV).

Building Or Dismantling?

Have you built a case for God by that which you're defending,
Or a case for man instead, thus thereby God offending?
And tell me, are you doing everything that you can
To build up God's Word and expose any wrong words of man?

Are your thoughts in tune with God's, and do your lips such convey,
Or is it only what fits your thinking that you relay?
And does what you’re expounding, as a Christian, fit the bill,
And is what you’re upholding in accordance with God’s will?

Are you maximizing truth for the glory of our Lord,
Or in some way helping others take wrong things on board?
When you find yourself engaged in some action, word or thought,
Does it fit the written Word, or just something you have bought?

Are you plumbing Scripture's depths, or only surface reading?
Is it Scripture, or the words of man, that you are heeding?
Do you rely on others for finding out what is true,
Or do your own deep study like each Christian’s meant to do?

How deeply are you thinking, friend, before you take a stand,
How strong is that foundation, is it built on sinking sand?
Are you easy to approach with a view that yours opposes,
Or does that put to test just how quickly your mind closes?

Is it wrong that you lessen, or wrong that you're aiding more,
Could you have turned a handle on another foolish door?
Are others heading through it and opening more in turn, 
Now happily engaged in what is reason for concern?

If a leader, are you leading, or by people are you led,
Is it God you’re putting first, or just what they want instead?
 Is not duty to impart what the people need to hear,
And to act upon God's Word, never what just suits their ear?

Many people seem convinced that the view they hold is right,
And they strongly defend that cherished view with all their might.
Yet so often it’s been seen that it wasn't right at all,
Which means that in the meantime error simply had a ball. 

Our omniscient, Holy God knew truth would make us whole,
Hence why He stressed in Scripture the importance of its role.
So if you’re telling others things contrary to what’s true,
You’re sadly doing something God does not want you to do,

Imagine getting to Heaven and finding you were wrong,
That you had been misleading friends and loved ones all along.
How terrible you would feel is why you should take great care,
And why you should seek the truth that God's called us all to share.

By Lance Landall


This poem was upgraded on 26 November 2022.