Author’s note: This is a rather niche theological poem I wrote about 20 years ago which seems relevant again. The attempt to Christianize every square inch of society has been tried before.
Christendom
Ten proper Calvinists, keenly apace
Marching adroitly, Left and Right face!
Bearing Ye Answers for Every Last Case,
Neatly rolled up, each one in their place.
Ten sable presbyters, without whimsy or lace
Armed with the doctrines of explainable grace.
Off now to battle, bold banners unfurled
Down from the pulpits – into the world!
Come forth storm and come forth hail
Capture each thought and send it to jail!
Schoolyard and hospice and right scrubbed face
Soap, stitch and nail now the Means of Grace,
Refitting teacher and butcher and baker
Neatly reshelved in accord with their Maker.
All is in order, all is in place
Armed with our doctrines of explainable grace.
~~~~~
Comes now the True Storm, comes now the hail
Ripping out stitch and unfastening nail,
Trestles give way and crossbars fail
As all of Ye Answers turn vague and turn pale.
Crashing of Mystery rends silent the soul
As Passion run floods soak through every scroll.
~~~~~
Ten proper Calvinists, keenly aloof
Marching in circles – up there on the roof.
Back to the pulpit, explaining each proof
And trying again to flatten God.
NOTES
Line 5 — TS Eliot, “Mr. Eliot’s Sunday Morning Service”
Line 10 — 2 Cor. 10:5
Line 12 — Henry Ward Beecher, endorsing a brand in a newspaper ad: “Since cleanliness is next to godliness, then Soap must be considered a Means of Grace.”
Line 17 — Job 38:1
As they say, That is what you call a solid landing.
Absolutely love this, Chris. To use Guite’s image, this is a poem that jams my machine.