That Swinging Back Door
A clear admission of failure is that swinging back door,
Through which countless disillusioned and hurting Christians pour.
No Christian church should have one, for its oiled hinges say:
That something within that church has gone terribly astray.
If shepherds neglect their flock, their flock will very soon stray,
Or wolves will somehow gain access and carry sheep away.
And so it is with members foolishly neglected too,
For they’ll wander also, or be carried off, led askew.
Yes, flocks need looking after if they’re to prove of value,
We can’t leave them to themselves and new sheep go and pursue.
Those who neglect existing sheep, in time neglect the new,
Who often join the exodus and that same door go through.
But meantime, they’re fussed over, while the others are left alone,
(And the missing are left to fester, who lack of love bemoan).
Thus, the reason the back door swings is really a simple one:
Churches aren’t truly reflecting the ways or will of the Son.
And so it goes, that the back door swings, largely due to neglect,
Bringing shame upon the Church and displeasing its Architect.
Often far too much time and attention is going elsewhere,
Thus hindering the Spirit and getting in the way of prayer.
Where members feel truly loved, missed and valued, they will stay,
And there, the Spirit will permeate like a sweet bouquet.
There, no back door will swing, there’ll be balance and harmony,
And outreach built on nurture, quality not quantity.
Yes, who would neglect a flock, not nurture, cherish and guide,
Leaving that back door swinging while busy elsewhere, outside?
No, look after those you have, and secure the foundation,
And then you’ll have a happy, stable, fuller congregation.
By Lance Landall
Last One Out...
So many young folk are leaving their church, even Christianity,
No longer knowing what to believe given all the changes they see;
Courtesy of the contemporary movers and shakers, who,
Ignore the old way-marks, question God’s Word, and its content misconstrue.
Yes, contemporary movers and shakers who’re hell bent on change,
And who, the gospel as proclaimed by the apostles, rearrange.
They introduce the worldly, along with, “The end justifies the means,”
Which muddies and confuses, and the Word of God, clearly contravenes.
Thus, it’s no wonder young folk wander (and many never to return),
Often immature spiritually, hence unable to discern.
Yes, lacking an in-depth understanding of Scripture, tragically,
Having only been fed on milk, and not meat, most irresponsibly.
Sure it doesn’t help, if they themselves haven’t plumbed the depths of God’s Word,
But what a travesty, when from the pulpit, solid teaching’s hardly heard.
Or when deeper study gives way to other things that aren’t so weighty,
And worship is more focused on the man pleasing contemporary.
Where there isn’t a solid foundation, there is no security,
But rather, simply shifting sand, and all those changes that we can see.
A casualness, irreverence, an unhealthy lack of concern,
Which sooner or later sees many young folk doing an about-turn.
That is, heading back into the world, leaving their church, for why remain
If there’s little difference, confusion, and nothing’s no longer plain,
If grace covers sin, and not just sinners, as is being taught or implied,
And if the narrow way isn’t narrow anymore, but rather, wide?
Yes, why would they remain if all they are seeing is hypocrisy,
Double standards, compromise, worldly imitation, a mockery?
Hence one reason why a church back door swings, hinges oiled unwittingly
By contemporary movers and shakers alias apostasy.
But having said all that,
Is every single thing that’s contemporary unacceptable?
No. Only that which conflicts with Scripture and runs counter to God’s will.
After all, contemporary simply means: What’s going down today,
Currently, as of this time, as opposed to the past — now, one can say.
By Lance Landall