JUMP THROUGH

Isn't it amazing how the human race can twist things that were
meant for good into instruments of evil...Religion has been used
to push extreme political viewpoints, racism, destruction of
cultures, hatred, selfishness and ignorance.

Modern churches are often closed off from the real world.
They have become stained-glass bunkers where people hide from those
in pain. Society is crumbling and the religious system is more
concerned with building programs, choir robes, padded pews and
fattening up their bank accounts.

Televangelists beg for money on TV. They stride across the stage
in expensive suits and preen for the cameras. Christianity has
become an industry where cash is more important than integrity.
This was never part of the original plan. Humans have smeared
the reflection of God with their dirty fingers.

Jesus did not come to promote His books, cassettes, television
show or any of the other commercial junk that has been stamped
with a cross and marketed like products at the mall. Jesus was
sent for a simple purpose. He became our sacrifice for sin. He
took our place on the cross. Because of His virgin birth, sinless
life, death and resurrection we can have hope, mercy, forgiveness
and healing.

The fact that most churches are afraid to go into the shadows to
help the wounded is the exact opposite of how Jesus lived His
life. His friends are hookers and thieves, rejects and misfits. He
came for the broken ones. He loves goths, punks, gays, addicts,
hippies, freaks, alcoholics, convicts and rebels. We're all sick of
religion. It's nothing but a dog and pony show. True seekers are
not impressed. All most of us ever wanted was truth and hope.
We can't find it in a system. We can find it in the person of Christ.
Learn the difference between real and fake.





American Jesus
    
republican Jesus
right wing Jesus
military Jesus
nationalist Jesus
special interest Jesus
power broker Jesus
red white and blue Jesus
conformed in our image
conformed in our image
i don't know that Jesus
and the radio shows proclaim
conservative Jesus
politcal Jesus
created in the image
of those with microphones
and TV shows
and constituants
and voters
and weapons
and agendas
and hard hearts
and closed eyes
and they wonder
why no one wants their Jesus
false Jesus
trophy Jesus
president Jesus
senator Jesus
CEO Jesus
general Jesus
and they lie about Him
and create mythology
and close their eyes
and close their eyes
to the poor
and the naked
and the hungry
and the broken
and the wounded
and the addicted
and the shattered
and people like us
who are not looking
for a God
with a rifle
in His hands
we only want to see
the nail holes
we only want to feel
the breath of compassion
we only want to see
real Jesus
we only want to see Him
as He is.
   



NOT

not a church
not religion
not beads and statues
not crushed velvet pews
not a pulpit
not a man in a pulpit
not a choir
not condemnation
not piety
not holy condescension
not televangelist hype
only love
only Godlove saved me





HOPE

i woke up in a padded pew
that was red or blue or whatever
it was only a dream
someone was talking / yelling about sin
the sins of others
not his own
he pointed fingers at us
and yelled and yelled
it was only a dream
we tried to yell back
but ushers put white gloved hands
over our mouths
hard words bombed us
no one mentioned love or forgiveness
we all needed / wanted
His love
then they made us leave
didn't like our looks i guess
so we crawled back into the death spiral
that had been draining the life out of us
when a voice pierced the darkness
follow me
follow me
a nail scarred hand reached into my heart
and rescued my soul
as i walked into the light
i turned back toward the 1st church of intolerance
and whispered
get real.





JESUS IS NOT

900 feet tall
broke
in need of your VISA card
dishonest
unconcerned
dead





CRANIAL EXPOSITORS

OK let's take a very direct easy to understand message
and dress it up with theological terminology
dry it up in seminaries and Bible colleges
disguise it with churchspeak
hide it from people who don't fit in
and maybe no one will ever know
that God loves us





POP QUIZ

do you condemn prostitution
or tell a hooker about unconditional love
do you chain yourself to abortion clinics
or teach a scared 13 year old
how to love a baby
do you mock the AIDS patient
or hold a trembling hand
do you even care?





TELEVISION

blow dried hair
choreographed movements
human energy
human message
human show
move your products
tapes and videos
overpriced
send a love gift
for packaged fluff
fleece the flock
buy a mansion
a rack of designer suits
foreign cars
act sincere
when you ask for money
coax a tear
lean into the camera
bad acting
used car salesman
who knows his craft
squeezing social security checks
from trusting widows
monthly letters
written by jackals for hire
it's a game
it's a business
it's a con job
it's not Jesus
on television





RELIGION INCORPORATED

market strategies
demographic studies
million dollar buildings
exclusivity
stained glass fortresses
perfect pews all in a row
filled with suits and ties
building programs
land acquisitions
flee the inner city
build in the suburbs
lock out the freaks
post ushers like guards
bow to the rich
ignore the poor
fail to penetrate society
ignore the screams
close your eyes
to the war in the streets
build thick walls
isolate yourselves
pile the salt
hide the light
don't get dirty
react too slowly
grip dry tradition
play church
while the spiritual graveyard
inches closer
to your indifference.





CROSS THE STREET

He walks across
to the other side
where the sidewalk smells
where hookers stand
where junkies nod
where runaways beg
where the real world grinds
where the hearts explode
where marriages fail
where bank accounts dry up
where harsh words pierce
He is not locked up
in a seminary
in a church
on a TV set
in a separate world
He is not afraid
to touch us as we are
to pierce our darkness
to break our chains
to catch our tears
and hear our screams
He crosses the street
to where we live
He carries the weight
that drags us down
and does not run
when we rub against Him
with our pain and fear
sin and shame
death and decay
He crosses the street
He crosses the street