In Seminary, I was the president of the Evangelical Society at Saint Paul School of Theology. (Evangelism was, and in some places still is, a broad category.) In the last two decades, I have grown increasingly dismayed with the choices and behavior of many evangelicals. A new song called “Hymn for the 81%” captures my pathos and dismay. The lyrics are below in case you can’t stream the video.
Lyrics:
I grew up in your churches
Sunday morning and evening service
knelt in tears at the foot of the rugged cross
you taught me every life is sacred
feed the hungry, clothe the naked
I learned from you the highest law is Love
and I believed you when you said
that I should trust the words in red
to guide my steps through a wicked world
I assumed you’d do the same
so imagine my dismay
when I watched you lead the sheep to the wolves
[Refrain] you said to love the lost
so I’m loving you now
you said to speak the truth
I’m calling you out
why don’t you live the words
that you put in my mouth
may love overcome and justice roll down
they started putting kids in cages
ripping mothers from their babies
and I looked to you to speak on their behalf
but all I heard was silence
or worse you justified it
singing glory hallelujah raise the flag
your fear had turned to hatred
but you baptized it with language
torn from the pages of the Good Book
you weaponized religion
and you wonder why I’m leaving
to find Jesus on the wrong side of your walls
[Refrain] you said to love the lost
so I’m loving you now
you said to speak the truth
so I’m calling you out
why don’t you live the words
that you put in my mouth
may love overcome and justice roll down
come home
come home
you’re better
you taught me better than this
come home
come home
you’re better than this
you taught me better than this
come home
come home
you’re better than this
you taught me better than this
come home
come home
[Refrain] you said to love the lost
I’m trying to love you now
you said to speak the truth
so I’m calling you out
I wish you’s live the words
that you put in my mouth
may love overcome and justice roll down
may love overcome and justice roll down
may love overcome and justice roll down
may love overcome and justice roll down