Christian Living

---

I have a vision. A vision of a church where genuine love is felt throughout. Where everyone has everything in common. Where everyone's interest is solely the good will of the people. Where everyone praises God. Where everyone devotes themselves to the true doctrines of the church. Where everyone continues in the fellowship of breaking of bread and prayer. Where many wonders and miraculous signs take place.

Would this not be a wonderful church ? Well, that's what took place with the early church. ( Acts 2:41-47) O how we need this same church today. How we need that "Old Time Religion". The religion in which the "full gospel" was always preached and taught.( 1 Cor 15:1-4)

The world is changing so fast. And with these changes comes the eroding of the scriptures. However, we may change but our Lord never changes. ( Malachi 3:6 )

Growing up, often times we would sing that old gospel song, " Give Me That Old Time Religion”. It said, "it was good for our fathers, our mothers and it was good enough for me". So where have we gone astray ? When did we lose this concept ? Why is it still not good enough for us all ? You be the judge.

When preachers stopped preaching on sin, hell and the cross of Christ ( 2 Timothy 4:2, 5 ), is when we begin to stray from the true scriptural teachings and became more acceptable of the world's social gospel pleasures. ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4) Now days, it is really hard to tell the believers from the unbelievers. They dress alike, talk alike and go to the same places. ( 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) The old time religion teaches to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Christians are to live holy lives.( 2 Cor 6:17)

This departing from preaching the old time religion, has caused many modern day churches to simply become a social club. Preaching a "name it and claim it" gospel. Thus, abandoning the true gospel. ( 1 Cor 15:1-4) .

I can remember when all preacher simply preached the word of God. How church has changed. The preaching of the word has now changed to that of competing with the world's concept of a social gospel. How then will individuals get saved ? ( 1 Cor 1:18) We do indeed need to get back to that old fashion preaching and teaching of the word of God. ( Romans 10:14-18)

Some even say the Bible is out dated. This is nothing more than a satanic lie. ( 1 Cor 7:5) Yes, since the beginning of time, Satan has always attacked the true gospel.( 2 Cor 4:4) And this attack will undoubtedly continue until the end of time, as we know it.( Revelation 12:10)

The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had concerns about preserving this "Old Time Religion", as he charges His adopted son in the ministry, Timothy, to be aware of false religions. ( 2 Timothy 4:1-5 )

Once, it was said of Billy Graham, that his ministry had set the church back 50 years. Dr. Graham, who generally never responded to his critics, referred to the remark with humor and kindness as he said," I'm afraid I've failed. I had hoped to put the church back 2,000 years. Back to the cross of Christ

In 1929 Billy Sunday preached a message entitled “A warning for America”. He said, “What America needs is a tidal wave of the Old time Religion.” How would he feel today. A day when you can't tell the difference between believers and unbelievers. Now, we all look alike, talk alike and act alike.

And this "watered down gospel" continues today. Today's temporal churches are becoming distracted and are overlooking the most important gospel message, that being the welfare of our eternal souls . ( John 10:10)

Wouldn't it be nice to enter a church and actually have someone put their arms around you and sincerely mean it ? Is that why the church now has the so-called "meet and greet" segment of the service, so as to force people to shake hands ? And what happened to the pastor causally greeting everyone, at the end of the service.

Wouldn't be wonderful if within our churches we had such a close bond that we could develop a concept of " church partners". The members would be paired in twos, men with men, women with women and young people together. Then we could laugh together, cry together, and above all, pray together. However, now days we just give a fake smile in passing at church. Then go about in our own little world. No wonder so many new Christians fail to mature. ( 1 Cor 3:2)

I miss those old fashion meeting where the "Amen's" and the "Hallelujah's" echoed, as the spirit led. When the Spirit gave encouragement and strength to the Christians as well as drawing the sinners into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ

Sin is just as presently today. It is the author of all wars, civil disobedience, untimely natural disasters, sickness and death. And the "Old Time Religion" is the only cure for mankind, when centered in Jesus Christ, who never changed.
His virgin birth ( Matthew 1:23)
His sinless life ( Hebrews 4:15)
His sensational death ( 1 Cor 15:3)
His sensational resurrection ( Luke 24:6)
His visible return ( Revelation 1:7)

Jesus is and will always be the central theme of our "Old Time religion". ( Gallatin's 1:8) Without Jesus, there would not be an old time religion , and no forgiveness of sins. Without the "cross" there is no gospel.

What America needs today can only be found in the old time religion. So again where have we gone wrong ? Why can't we still have it ? Come on sing it with me and mean it, if you may.

Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
It’s good enough for me.
It was good for the prophet Daniel
It was good for the fiery furnace
It was good for Paul and Silas
It was good for our mothers
And it’s good enough for me.”

PLEASE CLICK ON MY NAME ( IN RED) ABOVE FOR MY OTHER ARTICLES. THANKS
Author's Note

Growing up as a Salvation Army Officer's (minister's) kid was quite an experience. Yes, that makes me the proverbial "Preachers Kid" or "PK" for short. Well, you might think being exposed to the Christian way of life, one would have an automatic ticket into God's kingdom. Not so, for we all must come in by the way of the cross. For you see, looking back growing up as a "PK", the most important message I remember was the strong, but simple, evangelistic teaching which states, ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). To that I shout "Amen." Additionally, in support of this evangelistic message, was our old fashioned church altar. Now, I realize the physical make up of that old alter was no different than any other construction. However, that old fashioned alter was very special for me, for that old alter was where I was first introduced to the Living God. I still believe in that "Old Time Religion". I can't help but ponder those old "brush-arbor" revival meetings where the "Amen's" and the "Hallelujah's" echoed, as the spirit led. And those old "invitation hymns" I pray now, since retiring from my secular profession, that God will hide me behind the cross and use this compilation to give encouragement and strength to the Christians as well as draw the sinners into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Just call me a "dinosaur" if you must.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR