"Is the Old-Time Religion Good Enough for 2009?"
by Senior Pastor Tim Owen

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…” (Jer. 6:16).

We are living in an age when many people are questioning the adequacy of Christianity. People speak of “a gospel for this modern age,” then try to give us something new with little or no foundation in the Bible. I believe the gospel for today is the same as it was 2,000 years ago. God is the same today as He was a million years ago, and Jesus is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

As a boy I spent many summers visiting my grandmother, aunts, and uncles in western Kentucky. One of my uncles was one of the song leaders at his church and kept a stack of songbooks. I’d often get one or two of these books and sit in the swing and sing for hours. One of my favorite songs was “That Old-Time Religion.” I’d sing it over and over, because its message touched me so.

“Give me that old-time religion – It’s Good Enough for Me,” was a testimony I still cling to today. This message was strengthened by the words of the verses such as: “It makes me love everybody, and its good enough for me,” “It was tried in the fiery furnace, and it’s good enough for me,” and “It will take us all to Heaven, and it’s good enough for me.” Yes, I know it’s the 21st Century. I know it’s a modern age, but I also know there are some old things that are still good. I’ll attempt to explain why I believe the old-time religion is still good by posing and briefly answering two questions: “just what is the old-time religion?” and “why is it good enough for today?”

What is the Old-Time Religion? The best answer I ever heard was from an old country preacher on the radio who called it “the old book, the new birth, the precious blood, and the blessed hope.” FIRST, the old-time religion is the Old Book. That is, the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Apostle Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is much more than just a good book, it is a message from God.

SECOND, the old-time religion is the New Birth. That is, God radically transforms our lives when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “…except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Paul described it well, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things pass away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Through Jesus we can have a new heart, a new start, a new birth and a new life.

THIRD, the old-time religion is the Precious Blood. That is, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are washed away by the blood Jesus shed on the cross. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Sadly, many people think we’re too sophisticated for this today. But the blood of Jesus Christ will “never lose its power.” This is the great way God has provided for our salvation.

FOURTH, the old-time religion is that BLESSED HOPE. That is, the wonderful promise and expectation that Jesus Christ is coming back again. Paul told us we should be “Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Jesus Himself promised “…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). This world is not going to keep going on like it is forever. Jesus is coming back!

So WHY is this old-time religion still good enough for 2009? To me there’re three good reasons. FIRST, it still changes people’s lives. Thank God He still saves and transforms lives today. He still makes junkies and drunkards clean and sober. He still makes the promiscuous pure. He still turns infidels into believers and sinners into saints. He also still saves that so-called “good, moral person” who doesn’t know Jesus and put him on the road to Heaven.

SECOND, the old-time religion still helps people to live. When we become Christians, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter to lead us and help us through the hard times. Also, Christians can turn to their Heavenly Father in prayer and see His many blessings in their lives.

THIRD, the old-time religion still helps people to die. One of the verses to the song says “It’ll do when I am dying.” When we come to the end of this life, we don’t have to face it alone. We can have the assurance that as we cross to the other side, He is with us and we’ll finally see Jesus.

The old-time religion changes people’s lives, helps people to live, and helps people to die. Yes, please, just give me that old-time religion – It’s good enough for me!