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Wolves in Shepherds' Clothing - ๐Ž​๐ฒ​๐‘Š​๐‘‚​๐‘† ๐ฎ๐‘Œ ๐Ÿ​๐ฏ​๐น​๐ฒ​๐‘‰​๐ผ​๐‘†​' ๐—​๐‘Š​๐ฌ​๐‘„​๐จ​๐‘

from Folk Song of the Fringe - ๐™​๐ฌ​๐ฟ ๐​๐ช​๐‘ ๐ฒ๐‘‚ ๐‘„ ๐™​๐‘‰​๐ฎ​๐‘Œ​๐พ by Two For The Show

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about

The focus of the next song, Wolves in Shepherdsโ€™ Clothing, is the once but no longer uniquely American phenomenon of predatory evangelizing. For whatever reason, spiritual people tend to be vulnerable when it comes to scams. And Mormons are no exception. Just look at the high rate of fraud in our state (Utah) and the large number of MLMs that have taken up residence here. Scams are bad enough, but I find it particularly galling when people with no scruples pose as spiritual giants.

lyrics

-- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- -- --- --

โ€‹Twenty-seven years ago, he showed up on the scene,
a well-worn Bible in his hands.
A model of sincerity was he.
But, like so many do, he changed.

Now his people drive him around in fancy limousines.
You might say the reverend's blessed.
The many mansions he calls home are plush,
as are his sumptuous private jets.

Wolves in shepherds' clothing,
pushing shame and fear and loathing,
squandering precious widowsโ€™ mites on wanton luxury,
building up a legacy of greed.

Other TV preachers perpetrate the self-same scam:
the gospel of prosperity
โ€œDonโ€™t hide your hard-won talents in the sand,
instead entrust them all to me.

โ€œJesus will reward your faith and make you rich like me.โ€
Thatโ€™s what the rascals say.
But never, ever do they fail to add:
โ€œBut first you'll have to pay.โ€

'C' section:
โ€œRender unto Caesar what is Caesarโ€™sโ€, Jesus said.
โ€œAnd take no thought for how you will be fed.
Songbirds neither reap nor sow, and yet they ever sing.
And what queenโ€™s royal wardrobe rivals wildflowers in the spring?โ€

-piano solo over a verse or so, then back into a new verse:

But still these sanctimonious hucksters prevaricate no end...
and watch their profits grow!
Like multi-level marketers, they thrive โ€ฆ by urging you to spend.

Worship God or pray to stones. That's up to you.
I won't stand in your way.
But vipers posing as champions abound. Be smart for goodness sake.

Wolves in shepherds' clothing,
pushing shame and fear and loathing,
squandering precious widowsโ€™ mites on wanton luxury,
building up a legacy of greed.

credits

from Folk Song of the Fringe - ๐™​๐ฌ​๐ฟ ๐​๐ช​๐‘ ๐ฒ๐‘‚ ๐‘„ ๐™​๐‘‰​๐ฎ​๐‘Œ​๐พ, released July 29, 2020

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