Separatist Street

Sing to the tune of Sesame Street

Come and play, everything's A.O.K.
Sunny day, where there's no conflict
with the culture we've escaped
when you get to Separatist Street.

Now and then, you will feel guilt again.
It will end, when you make a pledge
to buying only "Christian" stuff
here with us on Separatist Street.

Tribal gods, don't have a thing on ours.
Jesus junk, for everyone.
It's a plastic substitute
for truth on Separatist Street.

We won't rest, till we've given up the best
of all the things that please the pagan folk.
Don't they know they need to sulk
like good folk on Separatist Street.

Christ can't be king of all these worldly things.
He's at a loss, so we'll burn the dross
for Christ won't associate
except with those on Separatist Street.

The world is damned. No need to polish brass
on the sinking ship stuck in secular sh*t
Oops! The pagans are to blame
that I cussed on Separatist Street.

The KJV, is the translation for me.
All the rest are the devil's test
to see who has been approved
"Saith the Lord" on Separatist Street.

Communion plate, filled with the juice of grape
No, not wine! You sinful swine!
We all know Jesus teetoll'd
Like us all on Separatist Street.

The movie-house is unfit for a church mouse.
Stay away, or you'll lose God's grace.
Can't you wait 'til the video
Watch at home on Separatist Street.

Left Behind, the best novel of all time.
Blood and guts, without sex or any cuss'n
Watch the heathen get their due
See them die from Separatist Street.

My wife bows when the king's around.
Obey my wish, or the "head" will throw a fit.
Don't you know you must submit?
Marital bliss on Separatist Street.

We do love, anyone that is like us.
Other folk, that choose to live the devil's joke
Can all rot and burn in hell.
Ain't it swell on Separatist Street.

Sure it's true, we can't relate to you.
It's a shame, that you won't play our game.
Do the anti-culture thing,
"fundie" fun on Separatist Street.

Now you're saved, you'll learn to do things our way.
Or we'll shun, "You're having too much fun!"
Get back in line or burn in hell.
Happy trails from Separatist Street.

Judgment day, when Christ comes to judge our ways.
Will He say, "Good job at avoiding thought
Congrats on forgetting the lost!"
While you slept on Separatist Street.

No conflict...
No debate...
Sit up straight...
Clean your plate...
In bed by eight...
Jesus junk...
Fundie fun...
Left Behind...
Lose your mind...
Veggie Tales...
Oh, it's swell...
Golly, gee...
Be like me...
You'll feel great...
as you stagnate...

© Richard J. Vincent, 2003

10 Years in the Making! (You'd think it would be better because of this!)
Begun October 1993 and completed February 6, 2003.



Comments

i hope you don't wonder why you ... occasionally get into trouble. let me know how this works out for you. you can find me wandering around the pagans.

Posted by: maurice at February 7, 2003 1:04 AM

In a world where our spirituality is evidenced by what we stick on our bumper and wear on our wrist, we have perhaps missed that the message of uniqueness Christ calls us to is the essence of our individuality, the essence of being authentic and the essence of being different for reasons that are not cosmetic or visceral. Being "theocentric" is so much more than what we have diminished externals to!

Posted by: Ben Shobert at February 7, 2003 9:57 AM

I'm laughing and saddened at how you have so wonderfully summed up the Separatist culture in Generic North American Protestantism.

Posted by: Alexandra at February 18, 2003 11:57 AM

This is rather funny! It did prompt me to think about what is right with separaratism as well as what is obviously wrong.

Posted by: Ray at March 28, 2003 10:15 AM

Rich - I ran across this today when reading The Epistle To Diognetus. I thought about Separatist Street as I was reading it: "Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by either country, speech, or customs; the fact is, they nowhere settle in cities of their own; they use no peculiar language; they cultivate no eccentric mode of life. Certainly, this creed of theirs is no discovery due to some fancy or speculation of inquisitive men; nor do they, as some do, champion a doctrine of human origin. Yet while they dwell in both Greek and non-Greek cities, as each one's lot was cast, and conform to the customs of the country in dress, food, and mode of life in general, the whole tenor of their way of living stamps it as worth of admiration and admittedly extraordinary. They reside in their respective countries, but only as aliens. They take part in everything as citizens and put up with everything as foreigners ... They find themselves in the flesh, but to not live according to the flesh. They spend their days on earth, but hold citizenship in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their private lives they rise above the laws."

Posted by: Ben Shobert at July 3, 2003 6:28 PM

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