by Greg Litmer
Synopsis: Some years ago, while I was holding a meeting in Ireland about Catholicism, a young lady asked, "What difference does it make?" Her remarks have stuck with me, for they seem to reflect the current mindset of many people I encounter.
The winds of change are blowing,
Cliched I know, but true;
However, things are different,
And we have so much more to do.
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What happened to you?
I came to hear you preach,
Once you "peeled paint from the walls"
And now you simply speak.
---***---
Don't get me wrong, the fellow said,
It's still obvious you care,
But the way you used to rattle walls,
Well, it just seems that it's not there.
---***---
I met his words with a smile,
Albeit sad, resigned, I'm sure,
I think I've just gotten older,
I'd like to think I'm more mature.
---***---
The reply I gave was certain,
I am older, more mature,
But the winds of change are blowing,
Of that I am for sure.
---***---
I remember days from years gone by,
When the gospel I would preach,
That from those fiery sermons,
There'd be classes I could teach.
---***---
Sometimes studies would last a week,
Oftentimes much, much more,
And there were even times,
When I was shown the door.
---***---
Folks at least would listen,
Differences we would share,
O, I appreciate conviction,
It shows that people care.
---***---
At home, at meetings across the land,
The Lord would give the increase,
People looked to God above,
That began to decrease.
---***---
Looking back is a good thing,
If with an honest eye you can,
The first indication of the change,
Was in a distant land.
---***---
A lesson series I went to preach,
Answering all the questions I could take,
One of the last that I was asked was,
What difference does it make?
---***---
I didn't know it then,
But I sure do know it now.
The new approach was coming,
Doctrine, rules, conviction,
Didn't matter anyhow.
---***---
I still can hear that lady's voice,
As those very words she spoke,
We talked of it that selfsame night,
As if all the questions were like a joke.
---***---
I answered her as best I could,
A friendly, honest girl was she,
But she was the voice of the future,
And that I did not see.
---***---
Years have passed since that night,
When that new attitude I first heard,
No absolute pattern to be followed,
No certain authority in the Word.
---***---
Deeper study is required,
The answer can be found,
But so many people nowadays,
Don't want the Word around.
---***---
I am not giving up,
That's an option none can take,
Yet, I heard an inkling of what was coming,
What difference does it make?
---***---
The Bible's not a rule book,
That's what people say,
They're right, it's not,
But what it means is "I will do it my way."
---***---
The work is there before us,
But we must really try to see,
That many are saying God's not in charge,
The one in charge is me.
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Author Bio: Greg has preached for the Northern Kentucky church in Florence, KY since 2001. He can be reached at glitmer@yahoo.com.