You say the preacher's  much too strict
You say he's boring and so rude,
You say he criticizes loose living
And he's nothing but a prude.

You say he speaks against strong drink
And lambastes your long greasy hair,
You say he's just plain nosey
And at best he's not being fair.

You say he's just too old fashioned
And his teachings are obsolete,
You say his restrictions are so stringent
That they border on conceit.

You say he never leaves the Bible
And that he'll not give an inch,
You say he's overbearing
And his message makes you flinch.

You say he's a nut on punctuality
And he scorns when you're late,
You say he'll beg your last dollar
When they pass the offering plate.

You say his preaching's hard to swallow
And his thinking's a bunch of tommy-rot,
You say that you'll get to Heaven your way
And that you're as good as any of his lot.

You say the preacher gave an invitation
And your heart nearly skipped a beat,
You say the Spirit and song beckoned
And you lost control of your heart and feet.

You say you had this fearful feeling
And went down on your knees in prayer,
You say the Spirit gave you utterance
And the Lord dispelled your every care.

You say you learned a much needed lesson
That the power of the Word completely saves,
You say you learned all sinners are equal
Helpless, hopeless, and with souls depraved.

You say you no longer go to bed
Until you thank God in Jesus' name,
For the preacher you once despised;
When you lived in sin and shame.

You say your love for Him is genuine
This man who, your burdens, gladly shared,
While the world mocked your sad condition;
He was the only one that really cared.

You say He's your undershepard
And His friendship you'll long retain,
This dear preacher you once despised;
Though he loved you just the same.
 

                                             Carl L Hempen, 1979