The song is a satire of televangelism, released in a period when several televangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton and Jim Bakker were under investigation for promising financial success to their listeners, provided they sent money to them.

Before the lyrics were added, the song's title was "Do The New Thing", possibly referencing Tony Banks' opening keyboard notes, which are heard again in the bridge.

[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Once again, venerable band digs into its double-platinum We Can't Dance opus and pulls out an instantly familiar, yet totally pleasing rock cut, tailor-made for play at several formats.

"[4] Randy Clark from Cashbox felt the song "is a more hard-drivin' Genesis, this time with a send up on television evangelists, in contrast to the current hit ballad, "Hold On My Heart".

"[5] The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen described it as "a slap in the face against television evangelists who are more concerned about fleecing their flocks than shepherding them, and contains some very sharp jabs against the more hypocritical ones.

The opening monologue, which has been mistaken for a fictional scenario for the video clip, is based on an actual story Angley had told earlier in his career and which he recounted again in 2013.

Collins, outfitted in an orange suit, portrays the leader of the "Oasis of Faith" television ministry and claims that the Lord wants him to raise $18 million from his viewers before the coming weekend.

[10] As the song fades out, Collins continues to preach before being dragged off the set by Rutherford and Banks, a reference to the ending of the video for "I Can't Dance".

The song was originally intended to be used in the 1995 The Simpsons episode "Bart Sells His Soul", but as the producers could not obtain the rights to use it, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly was used instead.