Give me that Old Time Religion!

Proverbs 4:3    “For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.”

            There is a strong lesson in today’s verse. Solomon was given supernatural knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from God, but the main lessons he learned were at the feet of his mother and father. Solomon knew the pitfalls and traps of new beliefs and practices; he honored the “Old Time Religion” (What caused Solomon to trip was that he forgot this he had learned.)

            We have been warned to beware of new religious instruction; we have been told to run it by the Bible and the Spirit to determine the truth of the matter. I can’t help but think of the “Old Time Religion” of which we sing.:

The Old Time Religion is good enough for me,

It was good for our mothers,

It was good for our fathers;

It will take us all to heaven.

It’s good enough for me.

            What is this Old Time Religion?  Belief in original sin, virgin birth, Christ’s temptations, the inerrant, inspired Word of God, His death, burial, and resurrection as an atoning death for us and our sins, and His sitting at the right hand of God intervening for us. Period. If it denies any of this or puts any emphasis on self, it is wrong. If it leads anyone away from Jesus, it is blasphemy.

Lord, we love You today and strive to maintain the Old Time Religion. You make improvements in each of us, but Your Word remains true and unchangeable. Help us, Lord, to always stand up for Your Word. For Your service, we live.   Amen