Give Me That Old Time Religion!
When I used to sing this song, it would conjure images of Paul and Silas at sawdust revival meetings, Bible studies, altar calls, etc. When I started to read about the Church fathers, (the early Christians who were direct descendants of the apostles), a different image of the Church started to emerge. I now see this Church as it truly was in the first centuries through the writings of the Christians who were actually there. When I sing about the Old Time Religion now, I think of the Eucharist, baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and yes, the historical fact these Christians referred to themselves as the Catholic Church. Yes, they did have "altar calls" in which the faithful went forward in the worship service and received Christ as Lord and Savior. (Only for them, as Catholics do now, they believed they were literally eating the flesh of Christ and drinking his blood in the appearance of bread and wine.)
I prefer now to sing this version of Old Time Religion:
Give me that Old time Religion
Give me that Old time Religion
Give me that Old time Religion
‘Cause it’s good enough for me!
He was it’s first bishop and leader
The gates of hell would not defeat her
So she’s good enough for me
When the jailer asked “how to revive us”
“For forgiveness please baptize us”
So it’s good enough for me
When he described the Mass’s order
He wrote about the Sacrifice of the Altar
So it’s good enough for me
In the Catholic Church, he said, you’ll find Jesus
In the year of 110 he did preach this
So it’s good enough for me.
There was a Holy Ghost revival
The Martyrs died for its survival
So it’s good enough for me
In the Catholic Church he was a trustin’
Those Pelagians he was a bustin’
It’s good enough for me
And with His flesh He said he'd feed us
Some still do not believe thus
But it’s good enough for me.
So give me that Old Time Religion
Yep the Old Catholic Tradition
it was good enough for the early Church
So it's good enough for me
Thanks to GFF's post today that inspired this. (A Roundabout Road to Rome)
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 5:56 PM
2 Comments:
Love it, TJ!
Tiber you always have the best photos. I must admit, although I grew up in the reformed PCA (perhaps a bit theologically snobbish when it came to these types of denominations - the 'old time religion' ones that is) but nevertheless my mom's side of the family is complete with 4 or 5 independent baptist preachers from SC and my parents both went to Bob Jones. My uncle sings lead for a national southern gospel group and so on and so forth. Needless to say, I've been to a camp meet or two in my day!
Growing up with that tradition, gospel music and camp revivals still hold a very sentimental place in my heart and I still love the music.
That being said, it did always strike me a little funny when they would say "I was saved... at an oooold fashioned altar" To these guys "old time religion" means grandma & granpa's church. You hit the nail on the head - now when I think "old time religion" I think St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp and St. Justin Martyr.
Reminds me of the time I visited a Presbyterian mid-week service at 12 noon during the week they said "we say this is the best power-lunch in town" im like... wanna bet? St. Patrick's down the road is serving Christ!!!
Anyway, thanks for the link and keep up the great posts brother.
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