Show

Instead of a Show (lyrics):
I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show

Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you're singing 'em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show

Your eyes are closed when you're praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There's blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don't fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There's blood on your hands

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

Let's argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let's argue this out

You'll be one of the clouds
Let's argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can't love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can't stand at all, all
I hate all your show

The last 10 or so posts I have written have been on what it means for humans to be created in God's image. What I've said is far from exhaustive, but I hope it gives a little more than a snippet of some of the things that have been on my mind. 'The Image of God' was John Wesley's first sermon (which he never published, but preached on several occasions).

Another of John Wesley's early sermons is on 'The Circumcision of the Heart,' which he first published in 1733 (at age 30). I read the sermon again today and the emphasis he puts upon 'holiness' throughout as a synonym for the phrase 'circumcision of the heart' reminded me of the elements Jon Foreman places in his lyrics above, which come explicitly from Isaiah. Wesley says the 'circumcision of the heart' is exhibited when we embody these: humility, faith, hope, and love. Here are some things he says of each:

Humility: 'Humility, a right judgment of ourselves, cleanses our minds from those high conceits of our own perfections, from the undue opinions of our abilities and attainments which are the genuine fruit of a corrupted nature...He who knows himself neither desires nor values the applause which he knows he deserves not.’

Faith: 'And this [humble] knowledge of their disease, whereby they are more and more cleansed from one part of it, pride and vanity, disposes them to embrace with a willing mind the second thing implied in “circumcision of heart”—that faith which alone is able to make them whole, which is the one medicine given under heaven to heal their sickness...The best guide of the blind, the surest light of them that are in darkness, the most perfect instructor of the foolish, is faith.’

Hope: 'By this anchor a Christian is kept steady in the midst of the waves of this troublesome world, and preserved from striking upon either of those fatal rocks, presumption or despair.'

Love: 'If thou wilt be perfect, add to all these charity: add love and thou hast the “circumcision of the heart"...Have no end, no ultimate end, but God. Thus our Lord: “One thing is needful.” And if thine eye be singly fixed on this one thing, “thy whole body shall be full of light.”’

And his concluding thought is what brought me to the song by Jon Foreman, Instead of a Show, above: 'Here then is the sum of the perfect law: this is the true “circumcision of the heart.” Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. “Unto the place from whence all the rivers came, thither” let them flow again. Other sacrifices from us he would not; but the living sacrifice of the heart he hath chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holy love.’