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Jesus is Easy--the shirt, the controversy and the song lyrics

For Christian stores, trademark violation is a pardonable sin--there's hardly a logo in existence that hasn't been knocked off to promote the gospel.  Yet even for Christians, sometimes this common practice can go too far.  Case in point:  this Christianized Staples tee:

For Christian blogger Shane Vander Hart and other critics, "Jesus is not an easy button"--and Christians should not buy into a message that equates faith with instant gratification.

Fans of musical satire may also recall a song that raised a similar critique, albeit long before the Staples shirt:  Martin Mull's gospel tune "Jesus is Easy," which linked the born-again movement to other 1970s' lifestyle fads:

I tried yoga, I couldn't do it
I tried macrobiotics, I couldn't chew it
I blew it
Scientology
It made a fool of me
Now I'm back to thinkin' things that I thought when I was three

Chorus
Jesus is easy just get down on your knees
He's gonna listen to your every prayer
Jesus is easy just get down on your knees
He's everywhere. Jesus Christ, he's everywhere!

I tried reefer, I couldn't roll it
I tried acid and mescaline I could not control it
I tried coke I couldn't afford
My soul was feelin' bored
Now I'm high as a kite
I'm up in heaven with the lord!

Chorus

I tried women, oh how I tried
I took little boys in leather suits outside
And had 'em tied
I tried a poodle, a collie
Kukla, Fran & Ollie
But Mary in a manger's got me satisfied

Jesus is easy just get down on your knees
He's gonna listen to your every prayer
Jesus is easy just get down on your knees
He's everywhere. Jesus Christ, he's everywhere!

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