"John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'" (Luke 3:7).

A Brood of Vipers

by Gert Strydom

While working as a senior accountant
at the head office of a major worldwide religion:

I have seen colleagues
running to tell tales
which were fibs, slandering others
to get their own way,

using the name of God
in prayer and twisting
His arm,
to get their own way
as if their words are His,

(smiling in friendship
while stabbing the knife
in the back),

meddling with salaries and pensions
to defraud and decrease
stipulated payments
(trying to stop this on my own),

I have seen a married girl
sitting on the lap
of her boss
to get a promotion,

I have heard the president
of a conference
talking about people
behind their backs
after happily receiving
donations for the church
and saw the anger in his eyes
when I admonished him
and those that talked along,

I have been told by a minister
in high office in the church
about my personal circumstances
that God pours His rain
over the unjust as well,

I have seen people
walking over others
in the Christian way
and still they had the audacity
to want to pray with me
and put their arms
around my shoulders
and thought that they were holy
and have the truth.

Image inspired by Zephaniah 3.17,
by Mark Lawrence of Alpharetta, Georgia, USA.

W. Scott King. Latin text of Zephaniah 3:17 set for four-part women's choir.

Prayer

God of Love, awaken us to your gift of life and love today that we may worship you without fear, give thanks for the blessings we share and support each other in the difficulties we face. Bind us together and make us strong in your love that we may be a visible witness to your reign of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (ABM)