A Song For Robert Jeffress after His Moving Visit from Hannity

I once rewrote a song, The Vicar of Bray, that should have “Dr.” Robert Jeffress humming:

The Vicar of Bray mocks the wobbling clergy of the Church of England. In the song the “good” Vicar will keep his job, his main religion, no matter the views of the Head of the Church (the Monarch) by changing his theology with the times. Sadly, this spirit does not require a formal state church and exists even in Dallas.

Today we have modern vicars of Bray, leaders of some of our Evangelicals colleges and ministries, who will do, say, or justify nearly anything to keep the treats, preferment, of our political culture. They exist on both the right and the left. Ideas are less important than remaining as self-appointed leaders . . . the vicars who bray for the party get gigs on Christian television, publishing, radio, and ministries.

If we were to sing Vicar of Bray today, it might sound like this:

In good Jimmy Carter’s golden days,
When Democracy no harm meant;
A born again Democrat I was,
And so I gain’d Preferment.
Unto my Flock I daily Preach’d,
Kings are by God anointed,
And Damn’d are those who dare resist,
Or touch the Lord’s Anointed.

And this is law, I will maintain
Unto my Dying Day, Sir.
That whatsoever Party may reign,
I am an Evangelical leader, Sir!

When Ronald Reagan possest the crown,
And free trade grew in fashion;
The high tariff I shouted down,
And the National Review became my passion:
The Republican Party I found would fit
Full well our Constitution,
And I had been a Bircher still,
But for Buckley’s revolution.
And this is Law, &c.

When HW Bush our Deliverer came,
To heal the Nation’s Grievance,
I turn’d mainstream GOP again,
And swore to him Allegiance:
Old Principles I did revoke,
Set conscience at a distance,
Small Government is but a Joke,
A Jest is national building.
And this is Law, &c.

When Roguish Bill became our King,
The Yellow Dogs in Glory,
Another face of things was seen,
And I became quite Moral:
Private misconduct base
I Damn’d, and also Moderation,
And thought the Church in danger was,
From such Prevarication.
And this is Law, &c.

When George the Second time came o’er,
And Compassionate GOP looked big, Sir,
My Principles I chang’d once more,
And so became his man, Sir.
And FOX appearances procur’d,
From our Faith’s Great Defender
And almost every day abjured
Those whom our wars abhorred, sir.
And this is Law, &c.

When John McCain, Obama faced,
And rogues were all in fashion,
My principles evolved once more,
And I became his man, Sir.
And then a Mormon I could back,
To be our Faith’s Defender
And almost every day abjured
Those whom the President defended, sir.
And this is Law, &c.

Then Trump thrice married did become
Protectionist and yellow,
His caddishness I overlooked,
To stop that Garland fellow:
For in my Faith, and Loyalty,
I never once will falter,
And Donald, my anointed king shall be,
Except the Times shou’d alter.
And this is Law, &c.

For some reason this song comes to mind just now. We have few, Senator Sasse is one, that will not bend or bow to the idol made of gold. I wish our pulpits were always so blessed.