Value Pac was started by Ryan Sheely, Isaiah Coughran, and Ben Cater while … Read Full Bio ↴Value Pac was started by Ryan Sheely, Isaiah Coughran, and Ben Cater while they were still in high school in 1995. They struggled quite a bit with choosing a name. At their beginning they went by One By One (already a band named this), One Bye One (appearing on the I'm your Biggest Fan compilation volume 1 by Tooth & Nail) (too close to the other bands name), Berserk (already taken by another band), and Bizzerk (still too close and the label hated it). Finally, it was Value Pack and then Value Pac.
Value Pac's self-titled debut (also referred to as Down & Out) was released on Tooth and Nail, and was soon followed by Jalapeno on BEC Recordings.
After their first album, Isaiah was replaced by Shawn Humeston. In 1998 Ben Cater left for college and was briefly replaced by Ethan Luck. Shortly after Ryan Sheely's mother died, Value Pac was cut from BEC Recordings due to their failure to tour and meet contractual obligations. Value Pac then signed with Four Door Entertainment. Ryan was joined by Jason Feltman (Fanmail, Rainy Days) on drums and Sean Paul on bass. The band recorded Incognito, which was produced by Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell. Value Pac then disbanded. Ryan and Jason still play together in Radio Saints

Sunday Christian
Value Pac Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sunday is your day for worship and your praise and all
But when Friday night comes
You won't feel no pain at all!

Smoke and toke until you choke.
Wash it down with some whiskey and some rum.
Bottoms up and you'll have fun!

Why can't be like everybody else?
What kind of question is that?

Sunday christian!

What's that thing I see hanging around your neck?

Tell me is there
Meaning in that crucifix?!
Or are you just a fad that will fade with the lie you live today.
Who are you to say?

I practice what you preach only one day a week
Then the cross goes back under your shirt.

Sunday christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!

Mediocrity. Your mistaken identity.
Not too hot and never too cold.
You just want to be lukewarm!

That's not all right.
That's not the way it ought to be.
Change your ways today!

Preach to your friends when you're no different from them.
Who'd wanna be like you?

Sunday christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christ...

Now you've gone away
You'll never feel the same.
In other words you're gone.

Sunday christian!
Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!

Sunday Christian!
Sunday Christian!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Value Pac's song Sunday Christian appear to be an indictment of religious hypocrisy. The song's first verse sets up a contrast between Sunday, a day for worship and praise, and Friday night, when the singer seems to let loose, engaging in vices like smoking and drinking. In the chorus, the term "Sunday Christian" is introduced as a way to describe people who claim to be devout, but only practice their faith one day a week. The second verse asks pointed questions about the sincerity of the "Sunday Christian," in particular, whether they wear a crucifix as a genuine expression of faith or whether it's just a fashion statement. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of mediocrity and mistaken identity, suggesting that these individuals may not have a strong sense of self or conviction.

Essentially, the song seems to be saying that if someone claims to be a Christian or professes any kind of religious belief, yet acts in a contradictory way the rest of the week or fails to live up to their own moral standards, they are a "Sunday Christian" - someone who puts on a front or performs their faith only when it's convenient. The lyrics seem to challenge these individuals to examine their own behavior, their values, and their commitment to their faith, rather than simply going through the motions.

Line by Line Meaning

Sunday is your day for worship and your praise and all
Sunday is the day when you go to church and praise, and do everything religious.

But when Friday night comes, You won't feel no pain at all!
When it gets to Friday night, you indulge in all worldly pleasures effortlessly.

Smoke and toke until you choke.
Smoke cigarettes and weed excessively until you can't handle it.

Wash it down with some whiskey and some rum.
Drink large amounts of whiskey and rum.

Bottoms up and you'll have fun!
Drink with abandon.

Why can't be like everybody else?
A rhetorical question questioning why you refuse to do what everyone else does.

What's that thing I see hanging around your neck?
Curiosity about the crucifix hanging around your neck.

Tell me is there Meaning in that crucifix?!
Asking if there is any significance in wearing that crucifix.

Or are you just a fad that will fade with the lie you live today.
Asking if you are genuine, or if your Christian identity is just a brief trend that will soon pass away with your lies.

Who are you to say?
Who are you to argue otherwise?

I practice what you preach only one day a week, Then the cross goes back under your shirt.
You only practice what you say you believe when you go for Sunday service. By Monday, you're back to being a different person.

Mediocrity. Your mistaken identity.
Your identity is based on being mediocre.

Not too hot and never too cold.
You do not entirely believe or doubt your faith.

You just want to be lukewarm!
You just want to pretend and keep your faith at a shallow level.

That's not all right.
That is not an appropriate way to be a Christian.

That's not the way it ought to be.
The way you are being a Christian is not how it's supposed to be.

Change your ways today!
You need to immediately alter the way you practice Christianity.

Preach to your friends when you're no different from them.
Speaking to your loved ones about religion when you're in bad shape, like them.

Who'd wanna be like you?
Why would anyone want to be like you?

Now you've gone away.
You're gone now.

You'll never feel the same.
You won't feel the same way you've felt all this while.

Sunday christian!
You're an inconsistent Christian.

Sunday Christian!
You're an unreliable, irregular Christian.