Thinking Thursday: The Disciple

Here is a poem by Rudyard Kipling. It condemns the followers of religion for distorting what their leader originally meant. We should all examine ourselves carefully in the light of his comments.

The Disciple

He that hath a Gospel
To loose upon Mankind,
Though he serve it utterly –
Body, soul and mind –
Though he go to Calvary
Daily for its gain –
It is His Disciple
Shall make his labour vain.

He that hath a Gospel
For all earth to own –
Though he etch it on the steel,
Or carve it on the stone –
Not to be misdoubted
Through the after-days –
It is His Disciple
Shall read it many ways.

It is His Disciple
(Ere Those Bones are dust)
Who shall change the Charter,
Who shall split the Trust –
Amplify distinctions,
Rationalise the claim;
Preaching that the Master
Would have done the same.

It is His Disciple
Who shall tell us how
Much the Master would have scrapped
Had he lived till now –
What he would have modified
Of what he said before.
It is His Disciple
Shall do this and more…

He that hath a Gospel
Whereby Heaven is won
(Carpenter, or Cameleer,
Or Maya's dreaming son),
Many swords shall pierce Him,
Mingling blood with gall;
But His Own Disciple
Shall wound Him worst of all!

Rudyard Kipling