Totally Wrong - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Would Jesus torture,
would he allow his disciples to torture
would people acting as his friends,
as children of God,
as members of the royal priesthood
branches of the vine, sheep of his fold,
clay in the potter’s hands
would they torture?

These are the questions that must be asked
not some equivocal, worldly question
of what we are permitted to do
couched in gray and the flag.

We are bound with our savior,
by his example, the touchstone,
his blood on the lintels of our hearts.
His still small voice speaking
deep within, the wellsprings of our souls.

We must strive, in all we do,
in who we are
to follow his example,
to walk yoked to him
to do as he would do.

For if we are his followers,
if we are to be fishers of men
the stain of torture cannot be on our flesh
We cannot allow expediency
or some moral claim
pull us from our savior’s path

May 17, 2009
Psalm 98:4-8 (Call to Worship)
1 John 5:1-5
John 15:11-15
Message for Children
by Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
sermon, “Friends”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
and final hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”,
United Methodist Hymnal #526
(Sanctifying Grace and Perfecting Grace section),
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
May 17, 2009
and the comments of Gary Bauer
in the article, “To torture or not to torture?:
Pew Forum poll rekindles debate and prompts
some evangelical soul-searching",
by Eric Gorski, Associated Press,
appearing on page B7 of the Concord Monitor,
May 16, 2009