Old Time Religion

Welcome to the boards!

What exactly is "Old Time Religion"? I've tried to figure it out before, and I've heard about it lots from Baptists and Pentecostals, but haven't been able to figure it out exactly. From what I can tell, it's not really even "old", but is from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s. I'm not trying to be argumentative, really. How do people define it?

 

It's when slavery and tenant farming were around. It's when the north and south were divided over the issue of slavery. It's when cars did not exist. It's when people dream about the past and forget about what lies ahead.

 

Hello, DependentOnJESUS.

I knew Bro. Harold Sightler personally (but not the rest of the preachers you mentioned). He was a board member of my mission board for awhile.

Funny story. Once when John R. Rice preached at Tabernacle, he knew about the "old time religion" practiced there so he said at the start of his message, "I want you to hear what I have to say. So if you get happy, please just wave your hanky." They say the church was a sea of hankies the whole message!

If that's the kind of old time religion you mean, the folk in the Midwestern Baptist Fellowship (graduates of Midwestern Baptist Bible College in Pontiac, MI, founded by Dr. Tom Malone) like to enjoy themselves in the services.

 

Hello DependentOnJesus, You sound like my kind of person! Would you happen to know Tony Finney who pastors the church that J. Harold Smith started there in your area? Welcome.

 

Dear DependentOnJESUS, first of all, welcome to Baptist Board!

But second, please be patient with us more reserved folk, OK? I grew up in a non-Christian household and was deeply influenced by a very English grandfather and very conservative father who raised me to appreciate the subtle things in life!

We're different, but your siblings in Christ just the same, OK?

 

I agree, what exactally is "old time religion?

 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday,and to day and for ever. Heb. 13:8
I have for most of my life refrained from using the word religion because of the inclusive ambiguous nature of the term.I perfer to say genuine Salvation. And this has not changed from the first century. Although liturgy and methods and modes of worship have, and some have been drastic. The Holy Spirit works in believers hearts today just as it did at The Day Of Pentecost. And the same spirit displays itself differently in individuals I believe according to personalities. Just as demonstrative expressions are not a true test of ones spiritually, likewise the lack of it does dot indicate a lack of the same.

 

3 and 4 week revivals come about by people getting right with God. Surrendering themselves for whatever God has for them.It has nothing to do with how loud you shout at a service or how many times you say "Amen" or "thats right" during the message or waving your Bible in the air.I myself do not get into all the "new" ways of ministry and worship but at the same time it does no good to focus on the past. We need to run the race "set before us" no need to be looking back over our shoulder. We were born into this generation for a reason and that is to reach this generation for Christ. That is what the great men of the past did. They reached their generation for Christ. We need to be doing the same.Not sitting around pining away for the good ole days!
Go out and cut a new trail instead.

 

IMHO,

Dr. Sightler did some good things for the cause of Christ. I don't think however that his ministry had the depth and scope of DL Moody's ministry. I don't think there are any superstars of ministry but just the same if those two men were playing college football then DL Moody would playing for a Div. I school whereas Sightler would be playing Div. II.

 

Do you mean like Psalm 150?

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Maybe a contemporary service might be something you would enjoy.

But I will have to say that one time I preached in a church where some people were constantly Amening me that it was hard for others to listen and for me to concentrate on what I was trying to say. It did make the sermon longer. So I had to chop it down some as I preached. It was about only 2/3 as long as I had planned originally. It was kinda fun though.

 

I heard him preach a few times, and he was a great preacher, but I didn't hear that one. You probably would like to have heard Bro. Lester Roloff. You never knew what that man was going to say! And sometimes he would start singing during the message. John R. Rice would do that too.

For you SBC types, I had the privilege of hearing R. G. Lee preach "Payday Someday" while I was at Tennessee Temple in the 1970's. That's one of the greatest sermons of all time, and folks got saved. I also heard J. Harold Smith preach "God's Three Deadlines" there, one of the most powerful messages ever preached, and over 1000 went forward and got saved or got right.!

That's what I call the Old Time Religion!

 

I think we were in the same service that night John.

 

I had forgotten that you went to Temple when I was there, C4K. It was a wonderful time spiritually, wasn't it? I learned so much in classes, chapel and the dorms. And we heard so many wonderful preachers--and the occasional dud. Remember the "Chaplain of Bourbun Street," or were you there then?

 

I was there from '76 - '83. DOn't remember the "Chaplain of Bourbon Street" though.

For all of the complaints people have about TTU and its "legalism" in those days, I am so grateful that it gave me the basis I needed to establish my own standards and convictions.

"The Old Time Religion" may have its pundits, and in some cases rightfully so, but I think we miss something when we through out the baby with the bathwater.

 

I have to tell you that some of my greatest praise times have come in silent tears as God has spoken to my heart in private devotions, or even in a message.

Praising God need not be shouting, hand raising, hanky waving, or anything like it.

True praise is a heart experience, which may or may not he outwardly reflected.

 

I have mixed feelings about this subject. I'm all for saying "Amen" and the like during a service. But that screaming and hollering and shouting and other nonsense, quite frankly, is for the birds. and smacks of pentecostalism, with the outward nonsense, I went to visit a Baptist Church, that bears the name of the one I was saved in (They marged with this group) and I ended up not going back, for 2 reasons, one, They were of the "Ruckmanite" mentality, and they were just too loud of group for my taste. I mean, praising the Lord is okay, but holler and carrying on, just to be heard. is quite annonying in my book.

I was once preaching in a Church of that sort, and as I was preaching, this old lady, kept hollering, "AMEN PREACH!" Finally I got disguested as shouted back, "I will preach! and if you'll SHUT UP, I might REALLY Preach!"

You could've heard a pin drop after that.

Luckily, It wasn't my Church!

MH