Alas, alas for you...

Alas, alas for you,

Lawyers and pharisees

Hypocrites that you be

Searching for souls and fools to forsake them

You travel the land you scour the sea

After you've got your converts you make them

Twice as fit for hell!As you are yourselves

Alas, alas, for youLawyers and pharisees

Hypocrites that you are

Sure that the kingdom of Heaven awaits you

You will not venture half so far

Other men that might enter the gates you

Keep from passing through!

Drag them down with you!

You snakes, you viper's brood

You cannot escape being Devil's food!

I send you prophets, and I send you preachers

Sages in rages and ages of teachers

Nothing can mar your mood

Alas, alas for youLawyers and pharisees

Hypocrites to a man

Sons of the dogs who murdered the prophets

Finishing off what your fathers began

You don't have time to scorn or to scoff

It's getting very late!

Vengeance doesn't wait!

You snakes, you viper's brood

You cannot escape being Devil's food!

I send you prophets, and I send you preachers

Sages in rages and ages of teachers

Nothing can mar your mood

Blind guides, blind fools

The blood you've spilt

On you will fall!

This nation, this generation

Shall bear the guilt of it all!

Alas, alas alas for you!Blind fools!!

These words we placed in the mouth of Jesus by Stephen Schwartz in his excelent musical "Godspell". How they ring true.

Although adressed to the "Lawyers and pharisees" of Jesus' time, I believe that these words aplie to the church today more than ever, especialy to thoes who let their own pride and self-interest stand in the way of God's devine plan.

As discussed in earlier posts, it's man's pride and arrogance that have hurt the church the most. The damage that "Churchy-anity" has done to God and the survival of God's message in an increasingly secular and disilusioned world is immense. The more peopple strive for control, using religion as an excuse, the more they'll loose it.

Our Pastor made an interesting point this morning during his sermon. He was talking about the "Da Vinci Code" and how, when he reveals the nature of his job, people are all ways at pains to tare Christianity down. Unfortunately that is the legacy of conventional and right-wing "Churchy-anity" and that is who, I believe these lyrics particularly applie to.

However it is easy to get swept up in the negative aspects of the church with out focusing on the positives. The joy it has brought into my life is emense and now I wouldn't be with out it. I must admit I get almost as judgemental about certain section of the church as they get about my church (MCC).

I geuss what I'm trying to say is that we can't change anyone else, just ourselves but, hopefully, by keeping an attitude of faith we can be able to open other people's heart to the truth: that God's love is for everyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, colour, creed or nation. Jesus came so that we might have a more personal relationship with God. I'm no biblical scholar but even I recognise the syblomism of the taring of the curtain in the holy of holies. We need no one on earth to intervene with God on our behalf because Jesus has already done so, and by having done so has made us worthy to come to God directly and be our own sacrifice of praise. What better wway is there?