For the Love of God

There's gonna be a reckoning. A terrible miracle like nothing you've ever seen.

In 2017, two of my friends, Pastor Tuhina Verma Rasche and Pastor Jason Chesnut, created an Advent devotional called #ShutTheHellUp, a followup to the 2016 devotional, #FuckThisShit.

Each of the contributors were invited to choose from a list of short passages of scripture and a phrase or saying that would serve as a prompt for a creative work.

I chose Jeremiah 1:7 and the saying, “for the love of God.”

My two friends are both ELCA pastors. Their denomination is suffering right now. Racism persists. Structures are broken. People are hurting, angry, and longing for justice.

Visit this site for a thorough explanation about what has happened in the Sierra Pacific Synod.

Tuhina told me that this song has been a comfort for her in recent days, so I thought I’d share it here in case any of you need to hear a song about God’s charge to be truth-tellers…

…no matter how difficult that may be.

For the Love of God

Hey there, Jeremiah — have you heard?
God, Herself, would like to have a word
Your sacred mission has been confirmed
Oh, it’s quite a job

Charlatans and liars rule the land
But Jeremiah — they don’t understand
The truth is coming from God’s own hand
And oh, it’s gonna hit ’em hard
Oh…

For the love of God
There’s gonna to be a reckoning
A terrible miracle
Like nothing you’ve ever seen
Ready or not
Every idol’s gonna fall
From the flag to the altar call
From sea to shining sea
Till they’re all gone…
For the love of God

Don’t fret, Jeremiah — God is near
Just tell the people what they need to hear
Explain the vision and have no fear
Oh, you’re not alone

God will place the words inside your mouth
And in the darkness, you must cry aloud
The lies and secrets will be found out
Oh, ‘fore it’s said and done
Oh…

For the love of God
There’s gonna be a reckoning
A terrible miracle
Like nothing you’ve ever seen
Ready or not
Every idol’s gonna fall
From the flag to the altar call
From sea to shining sea
Till they’re all gone…
For the love of God

How long, how long…
How long, how long…
How long, how long…
How long….

For the love of God
There’s gonna be a reckoning
A terrible miracle
Like nothing you’ve ever seen
Ready or not
Every idol’s gonna fall
From the flag to the altar call
From sea to shining sea
Till they’re all gone…
Oh, for the love…
…for the love of…
…for the love of God.

Photo by Hieu Vu Minh on Unsplash