The church of do what you want to

While reading Alan Wolfe’s helpful book, The Transformation of American Religion, I was reminded of a song by the band Jacob’s Trouble, “The Church of Do What You Want To.” It’s from their 1989 album, Door Into Summer.

The satire works because it channels a powerful rip current in contemporary Christianity. It also works because it’s true to some degree of most of us. Just listen to the chorus: “The Church of do what feels good, Baby, and believe what you want to believe. . .” Or the second verse: “We threw away the Bible and the sacraments as well.” Progressives and conservatives have things to answer for in this number. And, mea culpa, I’ve got things to answer for in this number, too.

The version here is an early demo, released on the 1994 Diggin’ Up Bones album. The formal release was more polished and features an extra verse. I’ve included the lyrics (and the missing verse) below.

The Church of Do What You Want To
Lyrics: Steve Atwell, Mark Blackburn, and Jerry Davison

Are you tired of religions that only seem to bring you down?
Cramping up your lifestyle like a certain thorny crown?
Are you sick of being told that you can’t make it on your own?
If that’s your case, I’ve got a place that you can call a home!

(Chorus 1) It’s at the Church Of Do What You Want To
The Church Of Do What You Please
The Church Of Do What Feels Good, Baby
And Believe What You Want To Believe
No absolutes, no wrong or right
Just ambiguities
At The Church Of Do What You Want To
The Church Of Do What You Please, Baby

Well, we don’t believe in heaven and we won’t believe in hell
We threw away the Bible and the sacraments as well
Jesus is just alright with us, just as long as you don’t try
To make him out as more than just an ordinary guy

(Chorus 2) At the Church Of Do What You Want To
The Church Of Do What You Please
The Church Of Do What Feels Good, Baby
And Believe What You Want To Believe
No absolutes, no wrong or right,
Just vague philosophy
At The Church Of Do What You Want To
The Church Of Do What You Please

Ah, ah, ah, I know something’s wrong

Something once was here, but now it’s gone
Ah, ah, ah, I know something’s wrong

But frankly, I am having too much fun

Ah, ah, ah, I know something’s wrong

Something once was here, but now it’s gone, gone, gone
Ah, ah, ah, I know something’s wrong

But frankly, I am having so much fun

Here’s that missing verse. In the Summer album it closes out the song.

Turn in your hymnals to Hymn No. 1

It ain’t “Holy, Holy, Holy” — it’s “Fun, Fun, Fun”

Don’t need a Savior ’cause we got no flaws

They ain’t sins no more

They’re more like spiritual faux pas

Ah, ah, ah, I know something’s wrong

But frankly, I am having too much fun!

At The Church Of Do What You Want To . . .