If Isaiah Was Alive Today

If Isaiah Was Alive Today
By Larry Linville
(based on Isaiah 1:10-20)
Used with sermon on August 12, 2007

If Isaiah was alive today
would he approve of the way we pray?
Our beautiful sanctuaries – He’s not impressed
and He’s hardly excited at the way we are dressed.
Traditional hymns and organs don’t take the cake
and our long winded sermons can’t keep Him awake.
Our cute little promotions – don’t get me wrong
are for too distracting – He can’t hear our song.
He doesn’t see the things we think are so cool
while our treatment of others is so very cruel.
He turns off the music that comes from our bands
because of the bloodstain he sees on our hands.
We don’t hear Him ask us, “Where are the poor?”
we think He is saying, “Please lock the door.”
What if He appeared as a guest we should warmly greet
and our first words to Him are, “Please move, that’s my seat!”
Now, before you miss my big point
and begin to get your nose out of joint.
It may not be that He’s not listening to you
when your actions don’t follow the things He would do.
More likely, my friend, I must make it clear
our unloving actions make it so we can’t hear.
Since worship truly is a two-way street
the way we treat neighbors makes it complete.
The good and obedient shall be fully fed
and our worship will boldly rise from the dead.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.