For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:

Naked, and ye clothed me not:

Sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me (Matt. 23:42-45).

Most of the people today have forgotten or never knew about the hippie era and their chapels in the cellars. They wanted to appear religious as they devised their own religion free of rules. Other hypocritical religious groups may be identified as you read the lines of this poem.

A REVISED VERSION of MATTHEW 25:42-45

Author Unknown

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club and discussed my hunger. Thank you.

I was imprisoned and you crept quietly

To your chapel in the cellar and prayed for my release.

I was naked and in your mind you

Debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and you preached to me

Of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely and you left me alone—to pray for me.

You seem so holy;

So close to God;

But I’m still very hungry, and lonely, and cold.

Being ‘religious’ doesn’t supply the needs of those who are genuinely in need.  Genuine Christianity should supply genuine needs, and does.

—Beth Johnson