.
.
Theópneustos
Greek, “God breathed”
.
The Word of God is absolute—
__Or else, some claim, it’s obsolete.
Many hold it in disrepute,
__Dismiss it as myth and deceit.
.
I say it’s for the destitute,
__For those below life’s balance sheet.
Emmanuel is resolute:
__He beckons to His Mercy Seat.
.
.
.
.
Peter Venable has been writing poetry for 50 years. He has been published in Windhover, Third Wednesday, Time of Singing, The Merton Seasonal, American Vendantist, The Anglican Theological Review, and others. He is a member of the Winston Salem Writers. On the whimsical side, he has been published in Bluepepper, Parody, Laughing Dog, The Asses of Parnassus, and Lighten Up Online (e. g. # 48).
“For those below life’s balance sheet.” Yeppers. And well put. Keep ‘em coming, Peter.
So short but so special!
Peter, Thank you for this succinct and affecting poem. Like James, I love the way you refer to those who are destitute – the focus of so much of the Bible’s and Jesus’s teaching. Your rhyme scheme is also very skilful and effective.
I agree that the Word is either absolute or else it’s meaningless since you can make it whatever you want it to be. Great message told in a very compelling way.
Excellent, I think King Jesus likes it as well, to use understatement. We have to lisp when referring to the Almighty. Also, in a related issue – there is a street in Kilmarnock Virginia named after your family. Many ministers.
Very much agree, Peter. The God-breathed Word is meant for all, but when He was Emmanuel (“God with us”) He sought out those “below life’s balance sheet,” the destitute with less than nothing to their credit.
I love this poem! So much truth in so few words.