The Devil's vision (part 1)

 

The devil once said to his demons below,
"Our work is progressing entirely too slow.
The holiness people stand in our way
Since they do not believe in the show or the play.

They teach that the carnival, circus and dance,
The tavern and honky-tonk with game of chance,
Drinking and smoking, these things are wrong;
That Christians don't mess with the ungodly throng;

They are quick to condemn everything that we do
To cause unbelievers to be not a few.
They claim that these things are all of the devil;
That Christian folks live on a much higher level.

Now, fellows, their theology, while perfectly true
Is blocking the work we are trying to do.
We will have to get busy and figure a plan
That will change their standards as fast as we can.

Now I have a vision of just what we can do,
Hearken, I'll tell this deception to you;
Then find ye a wise, but degenerate man
Whom I can use - to help work out this plan.

There's nothing so real as the things that you see;
The eyes and the mind and the heart will agree;
So what can be better than an object to view?
I say it will work and convince not a few.

The home is the place for this sinful device,
The people deceived will think it quite nice.
The world will possess it; most Christians can't tell
That it's all of the devil and plotted in Hell!

We'll sell them with pictures of the latest news
And while they're still watching, we'll advertise booze.
At first it will shock them; they'll seem in a daze,
But soon they'll be hardened and continue to gaze.

We'll give them some gospel that isn't too strong
And a few sacred songs to string them along.
They'll take in the ads with the latest of fashions
And soon watch the shows that will stir evil passions.

Murder and love-making scenes they'll behold
Till their poor wretched souls will be utterly cold.
The old family alter which once held such charm
Will soon lose its place without much alarm.

Praying in secret will also be lost
As they look at the screen without counting the cost.
The compromise preachers, who don't take their stand,
Will embrace this new vision and think it is grand.

They'll help fool the people and cause them to sin
By seeking this evil and taking it in.
Influence is great - this you can see;
Just look at my fall and you'll have to agree.

It won't take too long, my demons, to tell
That the vision of Satan will populate Hell!
Divorce will increase; sex crimes will abound;
Much innocent blood will be spilled on the ground.

The home will be damned in short order I say,
When this vision of mine comes in to stay.
Get busy, my cohorts, and put this thing out;
We'll see if the church can continue to shout.

The holiness people who stand in our way
Will soon hush their crying against show and play.
We'll cover the earth with this devil vision
Then we'll camouflage it with the name television.

The people will think they are getting a treat
Till the Antichrist comes and takes over his seat.
He'll rule the world while the viewers behold
The face of the beast to whom they were sold.

We'll win through deception, this cannot fail;
Though some holiness preachers against it will rail."