Forgive Us, Lord

Forgive us, Lord,
When we corrupt your churches 
When instead of worshipping you in the way you instructed us, 
By welcoming in the hungry, the homeless, the poor, the friendless, the foreigner, and people with disabilities, 
Instead we seek to keep them out. 
When we seek instead to make your church
A more exclusive private club
Attracting an ever-more elite clientele
Surrounding ourselves with luxury
And our own fear and hatred
While your people suffer
Outside our walls and gates,
Perhaps occasionally tossing crumbs
To assuage our guilt
As we feast.
We have failed to do what is pleasing in your sight.
We cannot plead, "safety!"
(Though we too often do)
Because you have sent us plenty
Of prophets and apostles
To this day.
Faithful disciple churches
Who have found the ways
To minister to the least of these
With safety and welcome for all.
Lord, help us to listen
to you, and the teachers you have sent us.
Instead of turning our churches
Into dens of thieves,
Turn our hearts
To worship you once more
By welcoming your Beloved People.