The Battle for Our Minds

 

 

Subjectivity versus Objectivity!

That’s the battle for our minds

And our emotions support the former

At least, most of the time.

 

Notice today’s style of preaching

In which a text is taken

But for all intents and purposes

That text is largely forsaken.

 

The subjective approach is preferred

Where opinion looms large,

And where objectivity is ignored

Subjectivity is like a barge.

 

Originating among the secular,

It is now present in the church

Probably because the church assemblies

Are wowed by external experts.

 

This appreciation for scholarship

Oft times, more perceived than real,

Is making inroads into Christendom

And this for me is a major fail.

 

Compromise is the steady diet

And the way to avoid being sanctioned

By secularism, drunk on subjectivity,

And maintaining one’s reputation.

 

Subjectivity trumps objectivity,

Feeling and emotion displace reality

And the Emperor could never be naked

Though not a stitch covers his nudity.

 

What in tarnation could be wrong

If today I feel like a man

And tomorrow, for whatever reason,

I want to become a trans?

 

Isn’t this genuine freedom

And within the pursuit of one’s rights?

Why can’t I be what I feel I am

Whether it be day or night?

 

And if I want to change again

Why can’t I be afforded that?

There is really no objective reality-

Subjectivity is where it is at.

 

Your world and my world,

Your truth and my truth,

Your experience and my experience:

Therein is the proof.

 

 

Why after all, aren’t there gay Christians?

Aren’t they gay pastors too?

So, if it’s all right with the church,

What’s so special about you?

 

And don’t you dare forget

The Bible is millennia outdated

And its stories, like any great story book,

Are especially exaggerated.

 

Joshua’s suspending time

By conveniently stopping the sun

And Elijah’s fire burning up water-

Oh, that’s an extraordinary one.

 

The universe must be very suspect

If it were created by mere words

And six days in which to form it all

Must be absolutely absurd.

 

Not to mention the virgin birth

Of the one they call God’s Son,

That one, I am sure you would agree

Has had a phenomenal run.

 

Subjectivity trumps objectivity,

Wisdom has become the absurd,

The outrageous displaces common sense

And all is right with the world.

 

Whatever it is you want to do,

Find a church that facilitates it,

You mightn’t have long to look, my friend

To find a church that fits.

 

 

 

There is a battle going on, I tell you,

And it’s for your mind and mine,

Scholastic achievement is a major tool

And the emotive is falling in line.

 

It sounds good, don’t you think

All these new-fashion brought-backs?

Proving there’s nothing new under the sun

Recalled Solomon of this fact.

 

The church is really “churchianity”,

Its four walls a rebuilt temple

And the prosperity and felt-needs gospel

Is a magnet that draws the people.

 

It’s not the Gospel of Jesus Christ

As preached by Peter, John and Paul,

Instead, it is a breakthrough word

That is comforting to all.

 

By virtue of your attendance

Plus, your offering and your tithes,

You are a likely candidate for heaven

And your eternal prize.

 

Filthy rich preachers in their pulpits

Mess with people’s eager minds

Promising them a sure breakthrough

And an escape from the grind.

 

Just sow a big financial seed,

Far more than you had planned

And boy, won’t you be greatly surprised

At what would fall into your hand.

 

 

So, money has captured the world

And the world has captured the church,

The church has captured your mind

And you are left in the lurch.

 

So many church leaders

Moving from ministers to mini-stars,

Graduating from prophets to profit making

Bringing family and friends up to par.

 

Meanwhile you sit patiently and wait

For your breakthrough blessing

When like your leaders who flourish,

You too will receive times of refreshing.

 

It is all in your mind

And there it shall remain,

You are playing against humongous odds

And your outcome will be pain.

 

Ask the many before you,

They all have their story to tell,

A story of a long wait in anticipation

Before they too eventually fell.

 

They lost their hope

And they lost their mind

And some could not even care less now

As they while away their time.

 

 

Charmed once but now disenchanted,

Fed-up and frustrated with church,

Disillusioned and disconnected

And currently just nursing their hurt.

 

More vulnerable than ever

With the inclination to fall for anything,

After having given life and substance

To support another’s fling.

 

I wish I could end this differently

But alas, this is not Hollywood,

But instead, the sad story of many a victim

That presently wish it could.

 

My hope, however is this:

That before you too lose your mind

You would examine all the above

For you could be next in line.

 

Stewart Russell © March 23, 2023