GIVE ME BACK THAT OLD TIME RELIGION

by Charles Robey
(Trussville, AL 35173)

It's that old time religion of our past
The same old spirit that's up to the task
I remember it well as if it were today
Seeing that big tent as we met to play
Watching as the big poles were raised
Just standing there in wonder and amazed
As the tent was raised reaching ever so high
It seemed to touched Heaven up in the sky
The seats were all placed in orderly rows
For the many hopeful coming in with the flow
The stage was all set for a big music event
The instruments ready for the sound ascent
As the singing rebounded from rafters so high
Songs of Beulah Land and the Sweet By and By
Amen's and Hallelujahs echoed, with singing
While young and old to the Spirit were cleaving
Testimonies sprang up from all over the tent
How to the Gospel from sin they all did repent
Now starts the sweet Gospel message of grace
When by faith the old sinful nature is erased
The message concluded by formal command
Asking for one and all to take the Gospel stand
As many attending moved forward to receive
The simple Gospel message was fully believed
Yes, I long for that Old Time religion today still
That deep longing in our hearts to again refill
Simply bring back that old time Spirit feeling
As we make our plea in our prayerful kneeling

"Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals foods, which have never benefited those who participated in them". (Hebrews 13:7-8)

I remember, as if it were yesterday, when my dear old preacher Daddy held that famous camp meeting. It was an event that had our entire home town buzzing, and which is still in the hearts of many of the old guard survivors of today.

Dad prepared the church sanctuary by placing straw on the floor to resemble an old fashioned brush-arbor revival. He also added hay around our old fashioned church altar. A big revival sign was erected in front of the church, listing the revival dates and the singing performers.

Yes, I'll never forget that old Fasola Sacred Harp singing coupled with those spontaneous shouts of "Amen" and "Hallelujah" and those inspirational shouting testimonies that sprang up all over the house. In fact, on one occasion Dad didn't even get a chance to give his sermon, due to the Spirit's leading.

It seems that now-a-days we tend to be too stiff in our church services. As one old Deacon put it in his prayer, "Lord please make something happen in the service today that's not in the bulletin."

What a time that was! I tend to agree. I really miss that Old Time religion. What about you? Do you have any such memories of your old fashioned church experiences, as well? I pray that you do.

My prayer: Lord, please bring back that "Old Time Religion" spirit and humble our hearts once again. Bring it back in our work, our play and in our churches. Again, may we follow the same example of our first Spirit-led church. Amen! Please read (Acts 2:41-47)

Author's Postscript (taken in part from holybiblesays.org.)

OLD TIME RELIGION
The new version of Christianity does not resemble the Old Time Religion of a century ago. In fact, the new version resembles the world more than the Church of not long ago. Sadly, "the Salt hath lost his savor" and the "Light is hid under a bushel." The reason the lost do not want what we have is because they already have it. They have not come to where we are because we have come to them. In (Jeremiah 6:16) we see a similarity between that time and our time

This old time religion is simply about the Family of God. (Gal. 3:26-29) (Eph. 3:14-15) (Eph. 4:4-6) It will make you forsake and forget your past. (Phil.3:4-6) (I Tim. 1:12-13) (Col. 3:3, 10) It will make you feel good about life. (Phil 3:7-14) It will make you feel good about death and suffering. (Phil. 1:12-24) (I Cor. 15:55). It will make you fear the fate and feel the fires of hell waiting for friends and loved ones who are not saved and you will care about others. (Jude 22-23) (II Cor. 5:11)

What this world desperately needs is some old-fashioned nobodies telling everybody about Somebody who died to bring them into family of God. Then we need to show and tell them how to live a victorious, old-fashioned life that honors the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!