Francis Schaeffer wraps up his must-read essay, titled The Mark of the Christian, with this ever-relevant poem by Evangeline Paterson. It’s called “Lament.”
Who do the work of the Lord
With a high look
And a proud heart.
Their voice is lifted up
In the streets, and their cry is heard.
The bruised reed they break
By their great strength, and the smoking flax
They trample.
Weep not for the quenched
(For their God will hear their cry
And the Lord will come to save them)
But weep, weep for the quenchers
For when the Day of the Lord
Is come, and the vales sing
And the hills clap their hands
And the light shines
Then their eyes shall be opened
On a waste place,
Smouldering,
The smoke of the flax bitter
In their nostrils,
Their feet pierced
By broken reed-stems . . .
Wood, hay, and stubble,
And no grass springing.
And all the birds flown.
Weep, weep for those
Who have made a desert
In the name of the Lord.
Schaeffer’s essay ought to be required reading for every Christian, I think. We’ve been given two mandates that seemingly work against one another: “Guard the gospel,” and “love one another.” Schaeffer’s insight on the ‘final apologetic’ of Christian discipleship is critical. For our Master has spoken, and he said “love one another, as I have loved you.”
I hope you’ll give it a read…
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1 response so far ↓
1 Katrina // Dec 11, 2005 at 1:56 pm
I have heard of that before. Sounds like an excellent essay. I’ll have to read it sometime.
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