These sentiments are heard now and again and deserve some thought.
I cannot hear your news for thees and thous,
Your strings of memorized verses make me drowse;
I’ve yet to hear a single text explained
Within its setting — aren’t you people trained
To teach the unlearned down on their simple level?
I need to know how I can beat the devil,
Devote my life to God, fire up my hope,
And with my stumbling failures learn to cope.
In Bible class and sermon I’d like to learn —
To know the open word of God I yearn.