[358]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ZEBRA MATTERS
This poem is blank verse. True blank verse has no rhyme scheme but does have proper metre. In this poem the metre is 11-8-11-8 right through the poem. Modern poetry is nothing more than narrative broken up into various length lines. What follows is a part of a prize poem from 2024:-
[[There was a roll of bills
in a pocket in the closet
But why had she shown it to me?
Mother’s hands made rough sounds on her uniform.
It was green
Like the tips of my eyes, now bedtime.]]
== == == == == == == == == == ==
This is what it should be written as - [[“There was a roll of bills in a pocket in the closet but why had she shown it to me? Mother’s hands made rough sounds on her uniform. It was green like the tips of my eyes, now bedtime.”]]. That is not poetry, just narrative broken up. So much nonsense these days.
The whole basic idea is that a zebra with its black and white can be confusing. The poem begins with describing a zebra that makes applications. The first one is the confusion in churches with their “yes, no” policies and no definite stance.
Laodicea had its zebras, neither hot nor cold. {{Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot, so because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”}}
The next are the church zebras who follow Conformity, Compromise, and Conscience-shedding, having no biblical conscience.
Then we look at church zebras - Church seats are full of zebras, social members - they love the hype; they love the style but they have no conscience or conviction. The church is a social club.
Then the whole matter is opened up to look into zebras in churches and society. These have no definite black or white, just a jumble of non-decisions.
One stanza is this –
[[ Striped is neither one thing nor the other thing.
Stand upright clearly for your Lord.
Don’t be compromised with a foot in each camp.
Striped is fashion for a coward. ]]
Then follow 4 examples of “Don’t be a zebra”. I hope you enjoy the poem.
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ZEBRA MATTERS
A zebra is a curious animal;
Very distinctive with its stripes;
An irregular canvas of black and white,
But unique in patterned design.
No two zebras have the same banding of stripes;
It’s their own special “DNA”.
The blackbird is black and the white dove is white.
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What purpose serves the zebra’s stripes?
It could be to confuse the enemy’s plans,
A kaleidoscope of movement,
When here and there, they dart around in escape,
And thus outwit the enemy.
It may be they have a collective beauty
That God designated to them.
The cynic may wonder what use is all this:
Neither one thing nor the other.
Make it white; make it black, not the confusion
That distracts the poor cynic’s mind.
=======================
There is an application that can be made
To certain Christians, I am sure.
In matters theological, this we know
That some are neither this nor that;
Uncertain in belief; waverers in faith.
They will not take a stand for truth.
These are zebras, neither black nor white you see.
They graze unnoticed in churches;
When it comes to commitment, where are they then?
They remain in the herd unseen.
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Laodicea had its zebras there also.
They were ones neither hot nor cold.
In the church they were reprobates, of no use,
Fit only to be spat right out.
=======================
Church zebras like to congregate in their stalls,
Those resting pens with their own names.
The names are well described, like Conformity,
Compromise, and Conscience-shedding.
Laodicea is alive and well right now.
It suits the mores of this world.
It takes no stand on godly things, but denies
The important moral issues.
No Christian could ever support abortion;
Can not support vile “gay marriage”.
=======================
Zebras like to band together in their herd.
They know it gives security.
Like doves, they do not act or think by themselves.
Where’s the courage to stand alone?
Together they eat; together they will flee.
Where’s the courage to stand alone?
=======================
Church seats are full of zebras, social members -
They love the hype; they love the style.
Where among the masses are found Daniel’s men;
Those who please not man, but please God?
We live in darkened days, and love for God wanes;
Love’s growing cold through cowardice.
Why accept a bit of this; a bit of that;
Drift in the tide, and anchorless.
Dare to be a Daniel; dare to stand alone
Know God’s true word, and know the Lord.
So many adhere to Christianity,
But they do so in ignorance.
=======================
The zebras in the Laodicean church
Were implored to open the door.
Hot or cold was a tragic state of affairs.
Lukewarm profession was worthless.
Unless the bible is accepted as true;
As the inspiration of God,
Then there is no basis to judge right or wrong.
Then one will just drift with the wind.
God hates that. He wants strong trunks against the wind; (gale)
Ones that stand upright in the wind.
It requires rigidity in the storm;
Strength of character to the fore.
“Come out from among them, My people,” God said
Stand on principles, not on doubt.
If God be God, then serve Him. What is your choice?
Gutless wonders don’t count for God -
A bit of this, or a bit of black or white;
Not hot nor cold, merely lukewarm.
God hates that condition of non-commitment
Be hot or cold or black or white.
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Too many zebras are found in the pulpits,
Anaesthetising people.
Blind leaders of the blind without direction;
Men, women, not raised up by God.
On moral or biblical issues, hear this –
A bit of black with white is wrong.
Those with no certain values destroy the faith;
False teachers without a conscience.
You can’t have a mixing of truth and error.
It is like mixing milk and mud.
God’s truth remains paramount and eternal;
It can’t be adulterated.
Zebras in churches and on television
Charge after lies and discard truth.
Some are not conscious of the wrong they promote,
Through ignorance and delusion.
“Christian” zebras feast on liberalism;
Humanism is their dessert;
Pride and intellectualism as well.
What a sorry state we are in!
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Striped is neither one thing nor the other thing.
Stand upright clearly for your Lord.
Don’t be compromised with a foot in each camp.
Striped is fashion for a coward.
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Be not a zebra when it comes to doctrine.
Know the word and proclaim its truths.
Those who honour God, God Himself will honour.
Study the word to be approved.
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Be not a zebra when it comes to belief.
“I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE.”
Belief must not connect with any other.
God’s word formulates your beliefs.
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Be not a zebra when it comes to practice.
Your behaviour must be correct.
What you live is what you witness to, you know;
It’s either black or white, not striped.
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Don’t be a zebra unsure of black or white.
Do not conform or compromise.
Discretion and discernment are your best friends.
Take them with you each day always.
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To end, learn the lesson from the zebra’s stripes:
Its pattern fits the zebra well,
But not the Christian who alters black and white;
Who’s partly this and partly that;
Partly hot and partly cold, who’ve compromised.
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God requires bright, shining lights,
Not those dulled and dirty by indecision,
Who are no witness to others.
Take stock and choose – be black or white; hot or cold.
Better still, be on fire for God!
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R E Ferguson 27 and 28 December 2020 Blank Verse
11-8-11-8 throughout