But He’s not wearing a tie - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Have you ever heard the comment
noticed the body language
someone different
maybe not in “church” attire
the eyes saying, maybe,
at least he came to church;
“But he’s not wearing a tie”

Have you ever thought that baby
in the fourth pew, being loud
the five year old
fighting with their sibling
maybe they should be in the nursery
before the children’s message
maybe they don’t fit

So many examples
when we fail to be Christians
so sure of ourselves
forgetting his message
the example of Christ
God emptying himself
to live humbly on the earth
his words in the Beatitudes,
his Sermon on the Mount

So different than ourselves
and the original twelve
too quick to judge others
as the Pharisees had done
ready to use rules, tradition
our sense of right and wrong
setting ourselves apart
causing lasting harm

What would Jesus do
if he entered into our midst
dressed with his robe and sandals
not a newly pressed suit
unshaven, from the dusty road
coming into our midst
would we welcome him
to sit next to us in our assigned pew?

July 31, 2010
When Christians Get it Wrong trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEp5aGSwUmY
AbingtonBooks
http://www.facebook.com/AbingdonPress
by Adam Hamilton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastor-Adam-Hamilton/338460008965
&
my comment posted to this post:
“This is a very powerful message and one that needs repeating. We as Christian deny Christ when we do not live out the Great Commission by creating barriers, stumbling blocks to Christ. We must be sowing joy, not judgment, love not division, hope not condemnation, agape love not the values of the world. Only in this are we fulfilling our call, using our gifts for God's glory.”
&
Matthew 5-7
Sermon on the Mount

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.