The Things That Hurt

Music by Ron Klusmeier
Words by Walter Farquharson
Tune Name: FISHER

Lyrics as Poetry

The things that hurt, whatever’s cruel,
must all be set aside,
if we would work for God’s world
or in God’s love reside.

God grant us grace to trust in life,
in life and pow’r to heal,
to struggle hard for justice now
and strike a better deal.

God help us put far from us
the tools of death and hate,
and let us truly love this world,
before it is too late.•The homeless poor amongst us wait
for sharing to begin.
The silent lost and disappeared
accuse our silent sin.

Empower us, most gracious God,
to champion your poor,
and witness to your gospel thrust
and face our judgment hour.

God help us put far from us
the tools of death and hate,
and let us truly love this world,
before it is too late,

Words by
Walter FarquharsonCopyright © 1985 by Walter Farquharson
Administered by Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, Illinois • USA

Comments About Song

BY WALTER FARQUHARSON

The world presents a picture of the future which is not pretty. We can know that and, trusting in God, still accept today as a day of renewed opportunity. Cynicism, a disease of affluence, afflicts only those with full stomachs and a thermostatically controlled environment. The ‘disease’ serves no one well.

Even in Matthew’s gospel where a stern warning is given about the signs of impending desolation, it is followed by a judgement scene that sees the just separated from the unjust on the basis of having fed the hungry, visited the prisoners, welcomed the homeless.

Our call is not to keep an accounting of the approach of some Armageddon, but to give ourselves to doing God’s work of caring for God’s people. In doing that work, we know the presence and pleasure of Christ.

We can rejoice that it is not too late as long as there is one person who breathes gospel air and celebrates the opportunity God gives to build a community of caring. The light still shines in the dark and the darkness has not been able to extinguish it!

Audio Sample: Piano

One verse and refrain played by Ron Klusmeier

Scripture References

  • Matthew 24:36-25:30
  • 1 Peter 5:1-11
  • Revelation 22:17, 20

Season, Theme
or Subject

  • God∶ love of
  • Grace
  • Homelessness
  • Hurt
  • Justice, Human Rights
  • Love∶ God's
  • Poverty
  • Trust

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