Should I Go Or Should I Stay?
If ever wrong occurs, Lord, when I’m in Your sanctuary,
Should I remain inside (there), or just wait outside with Thee?
That outside I would find You, seems more like the case to me,
For I just can’t imagine I’d find You where wrong would be.
Perhaps it might upset some, should outside I choose to go,
But could I by remaining, an acceptance of wrong show?
I can’t help feeling certain that upsetting some would be
Better than staying inside, and maybe more so, upsetting Thee.
I admit it’s crossed my mind that to stay inside might be
Better than to go outside, lest some take it personally.
But would I endanger, Lord, (through a form of compromise),
My own belief and practice, which might lead to my demise.
Scripture says a little yeast will leaven a batch of dough,
And so it is with compromise, for a little helps more grow.
Could we -- if we give an inch -- find that we have lost a mile,
And thereby, even more so, Your sanctuary defile?
I know it’s just a building, but we’re there to worship You,
And anywhere we worship You, it’s a sacred thing we do.
For You’re a God who’s Holy, and whose righteousness requires
A worship that’s in line with all a Holy God desires.
Effectively, we’re in Your presence when we worship You,
Along with Holy angels joining in our worship too.
Would these angels who adore You, remain if You’re offended?
Should any Christian either, (who’ve their life to You surrendered)?
These things that need avoidance can occur so frequently,
Especially the laughter that in worship shouldn't be.
Along with this there's clapping, certain music, skits and clowns,
That compromise saw creep in, until it now in church abounds.
You showed Your great displeasure when Your temple priests of old
Took what You had sanctified, and wrong with it tried to mold.
Mixing secular with Holy, the strong lesson they soon learned
Was, that content is an issue, as far as You’re concerned.
Though it’s content that offends -- churches too -- one should respect,
For they’ve been dedicated to Holy usage You expect.
Thus, nothing that’s not sacred should occur within at all,
For they’re a Christian witness -- that You -- upon this earth install.
Scripture shows that where there is wrong, Christians shouldn't remain,
For often through remaining, such (themselves) will claim or stain.
But where there’s wrong in worship, surely less so, one should stay,
As here -- offense gets personal -- for with You Yourself, they play.
Surely Your displeasure, Lord, is today still just as strong
When any content surfaces that in Your own time is wrong.
Such incurred Your wrath before, and we know that You don’t change,
That Your principles of worship are not ours to rearrange.
I’m aware that who I please, Lord, should first of all be Thee,
Especially in worship, lest I offend You personally.
Hence the following question, Lord, (for I want to obey):
Where content may offend You, should I go or should I stay?
By Lance Landall
For a simplistic, yet deeper overview come summary of this issue, click here.
You may also like to read the following poems: "Trojan Horses, Golden Calves", "The Misused Psalm", "Keep It Neutral", "Food For Thought", "A Certain Type Of Beat".
