Jesus,
Your coming back was such good news,
that the disciples called it bullshit–
we translate it nicer in church;
can you imagine that?
……
Jesus did you think that our job
maybe
perhaps
as Christians was to do
such extraordinarily good things
that when we did them
people would say
Bullshit! No one would ever do that!
……
And not so like, anyone would become Christian
or perfect
(because lets face it Jesus,
people are onto you when you are trying to steal their souls)
But just like, treat humans with respect.
……
Sometimes I imagine that churches paid every single person a living wage
or rallying for the forgiveness of debts (Reminder: Jubilee is a Biblical concept)
and working hard for universal healthcare for our congregants (the stories I could tell)
or even just make it so every sanctuary was a sanctuary for immigrants
……and
LGBTQIA folks
and those who are mentally Ill
and Those with addictions
and people with disabilities
and those who were houseless
……
If all those could feel welcome, accepted, heard and be essential to the leadership!
A place for teens to hang out without anyone worried about lawsuits.
And we got past tokenizing everyone who is different than us (hello white church).
I bet if we worked on a couple of these things, the church would become more Christ-like–what do you think Jesus?
……
Sometimes I dream that churches were changing the world–
and then I wake up, amazed that no one has cried out
Bullshit!
……
God I’m praying for that kind of church,
until then, I hope I hang our more with
Mary, Mary and Martha,
and keep saying things that make people say
……
Universal Basic Income for everyone? That sounds like bullshit!
……
Can’t wait Jesus, Till then,
I’ll keep praying
Idle Prayers,
And doing the work to make them
Working Prayers again.
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Like my work? Please support my Doctorate in Creative Writing in Ministry–as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Seminary

Poignant and convicting! Thanks you!