Even Hypocricy Needs To be Refreshed

When newspapers write
in tones of synthetic outrage
of 'political correctness gone mad',
at some fresh scandal, or scam,
you can be sure it is some old humbug
being critical of Hypocrisy for renewing itself.

The Unending Half Life Of Hypocrisy

Christianity in decline, both in depth of faith and numbers.
Whatever their fevered prayers and hopes
every reform seems to hasten the churches' journey
to becoming like the world they hoped to transform.
Thus ending the hope of Heaven consuming the planet.
You would think that they recognised
they were in a hole and knew to stop digging.
But decline is only right when through logic,
science, and debit financing we have departed
from the history of martyrdom as the means
restoring the world. I think it was Tertulian,
but I can't find the source, who said
'Watching people in hell [and not being there]
is Heaven itself''. Whoever wrote it did so
after seeing a few too many Christians become
a lion's lunch in a Roman circus. Since when
did torture begat anyone truth?
Any respite there used to be in the phrase
has shrunk in the wash of mis-recorded histories.

And still the urge to gloat hides inside every invitation to humility.

Christianity Is In Decline,

both in depth of faith and numbers.
Whatever the hope and prayer
every reform hastens the churches
becoming more like the world
that they hoped to transform,
putting an end to with Heaven's arrival.
Decline is only right when through logic,
science and debit financing we have left behind
the history of martyrdom as the means to growth.
I think it was Tertulian, but I can't find the source,
who said 'Watching people in hell [and not being there]
is Heaven itself''. Whoever wrote it
did so after seeing a few too many Christians
become lion's lunches. Any respite there used to be
in the phrase has shrunk in the wash of history.

Why does the urge to gloat hide
inside every invitation to humility?

Adam And Eve

and their descendants,
with all their hopes
for a life beyond time
are God's vanity
publishing project
called 'Planet Earth'.