Lyrics

Strong-Worded Letter 24
Parody of "Strawberry Letter 23" performed by The Brothers Johnson and written by Shuggie Otis
(The Epistle to the Galatians)

Hello, my brothers, I had a gift for you
A great message that was plain and clear ... and true
All you were born again by faith, but some other guys
Came forth and watered down the Good News of Christ
In the Gospel I preached, God's perfect salvation was free
Our works were never in the recipe
Ritualistic ideas are happening now
You follow directions from that very crowd

(It) feels sometimes hard to speak the truth
Grace sounds so lax
If you try to ask religious fools with rigid rules
If you are wise then, don't you see
Righteous ones, we live by faith, yeah — I'm free
Try it — oh-ohh — don't be — deceived

Stay with us else you can't be saved
These speakers of lies
With selfish motives take your freedom in Christ
Unpleasant, but true
Strong-worded letter sent to you
Those new, strict ways are gettin' poor reviews

Unpleasant, but true
Strong-worded letter sent to you
Don't lose it, Galatians, simply follow through

Galatians 1:6-7
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.