The Lament of a Believer in Exile

"Ah Jesus!

Where have you gone?
When did we lose you?

Was it when we became so certain that we possessed you
that we persecuted Jews,
excommunicated doubters,
burned heretics,
and used violence and war to achieve conversion?

Was it when our first-century images
collided with expanding knowledge?

Or when biblical scholars informed us that the Bible does
not really support what we once believed?

Was it when we watched your followers distorting people
with guilt,
fear,
bigotry,
intolerance
and anger?

Was it when we noticed that many who called you Lord
And who read their Bibles regularly
Also practiced slavery,
defended segregation
Approved lynching,
Abused children,
diminished women,
And hated homosexuals?

Was it when we finally realized
that Jesus who promised abundant life
Could not be the source of self-hatred..."

"We still yearn for you, Jesus, but we no longer know where
to seek your presence.

Do we look for you in those churches that practice certainty?

Or are you hiding in those churches
that fear controversy that they make "unity" a god,
and stand for so little that they die of boredom?

Can you be found in those churches that have
rejected the powerless and marginalized..."

"Or must we now look for you outside ecclesiastical settings
where Love and Kindness expect No Reward,
where questions are viewed as the deepest
expression of trust?

Is it possible, Jesus that we christians are the villains
Who killed you?
Smothering you beneath literal bibles,
dated creeds,
irrelevant doctrines,
and dying structures?"

"I still seek to possess what I believe you are, Jesus:
Access to and embodiment of
The Source of Life,
The Source of Love."








JS Spong2007