A MUST READ!!! - Give Me That Old Time Religion

It is amazing to me as a Pastor to consider how far the modern church has moved away from concepts like true Christian piety as well as what constitutes basic propriety when it comes to the gathering of the saints for the worship of our great God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

There was a time when the saints pursued, as best as they could, absolute purity in thought, word, preparation and deed, particularly as it concerned the meeting of the congregation for worship. Unlike the highly undisciplined ways in which Christians prepare themselves (or do not prepare themselves) for worship and regard the most solemn day of the week, our brothers and sisters of the Puritan church had a uniform and very devout approach to Sunday. Our 24/7 culture and mentality has utterly ruined and obliterated the concept of truly setting aside one day of the week for concentrated focus and attention on our Majesty on High. The result has been a weakening of God’s people and therefore a weakening of the church and the message she is called to proclaim.

In 1644, the reformed Puritan churches created a document entitled A Directory for the Public Worship of God. This document directed the people to consider very practical issues when coming to the place of corporate worship. Although it may seem impractical and impossible today, I fear that if we do not heed the suggestions called for in this work, we will simply continue our weak and pathetic form of Christianity. There may be something to that very “old time religion.” The following is simply an excerpt from one section of this document called “The Sanctification of the Lord’s Day.” Please consider well what is written here. The issues addressed are not a matter of light importance. What is stated here goes to the very core of what we are as the Body of Christ and individually as believers.

I have come to the firm conclusion that much of the problem faced in the church today is due to a continual disregard for those things that reveal a true honor, respect and appreciation to the Lord our God. And, as we lose respect for God, we will most assuredly lose respect for one another and for the lost, to who we are to proclaim the gospel.

I have changed the old spelling of some of the words and have interjected some commentary between each paragraph. The commentary will be indentified by italics so as not to be confused with the document itself, which will be bolded.

Of the Sanctification of the Lord’s Day

The Lord’s Day ought to be so remembered beforehand, as that all worldly business of our ordinary Callings may be so ordered, and so timely and seasonably laid aside, as they may not be impediments to the due sanctifying of the Day when it comes.

We are called to make every preparation necessary to put aside every aspect of worldly life when it comes to the day of corporate worship.

The whole Day is to be celebrated as holy to the Lord, both in public and private, as being the Christian Sabbath. To which end it is requisite, that there be a holy cessation, or resting all the Day, from all unnecessary labors, and abstaining, not only from all sports and pastimes, but also from all worldly words and thoughts.

How often are we more concerned about the football or baseball game? How often do we entertain ourselves with racing, fishing or recreation on the day our hearts and minds are to ponder the vastness and greatness of our God? How often do our conversations reveal that our hearts are more willing to speak of base, temporal and generally evil things, particularly on the Lord’s Day?

That the diet on that Day be so ordered, as that neither servants be unnecessarily detained from the public worship of God, nor any other person hindered from the sanctifying that day.

I have shared the concern with many before of the idea of going out to eat on the Lord’s Day. Why is Sunday such an important day to restaurants? The Christian community, because she is more concerned for herself, her comfort and her gluttonous passion, would rather employ people to feed them than to evangelize them with the gospel. How can we dare give testimony to the priority of Christ in our lives and call others to that priority when, by our own patronizing of food establishments, we are the ones hindering persons from sanctifying the Lord’s Day? I wrestle with this issue greatly. I am not necessarily calling for a complete abstention from such an activity, but at very least I am calling the church to consider well and carefully what it is that we communicate by such actions. I dare say that if the whole of the Christian community abstained from “going out after church” to eat, that many restaurants would at minimum have fewer people working (people who could be encouraged to come to church) or might even have to shut down for some or part of the Day (I know it is a long shot). I do desire that we are thoughtful about what our actions communicate to the unbelieving world.

That there be private preparation of every person or family, by prayer for themselves, and for Gods assistance of the Minister, and for a blessing on his Ministry, and by such holy exercises, as may further dispose them to a more comfortable communion with God in his public Ordinances.

This is simply a call to genuine and concerted prayer for the presentation of the Word of God by the Pastor and that God’s people would be drawn closer in their relationship and love to God through the labors and efforts of the Pastor.

That all the people meet so timely for public worship, that the whole Congregation may be present at the beginning, and with one heart solemnly join together in all parts of the public worship; and not depart till after the Blessing.

Nothing in my mind shows a greater disrespect to God and to God’s people than being late to the worship service. For most of us to show such a complacency or apathy as to be late to work or school would result in our eventual termination or expulsion. If we are so disposed to not make appropriate preparation in this regard, we reveal an utter indifference to God and to His people, particularly those whom He has called to minister to you. To reverse a Biblical phrase, “He who is not faithful in little, will not be faithful in much.” May we be faithful in the little (or not so little) issue of managing our time.

Another concern here is the idea that the worship service has ended with the presentation of the Word of God. Particularly in our church, where there is a concerted effort to discuss and apply the Word of God (a regular practice of the Church in ages past), the worship does not end until the close of our “Fellowship Groups” (i.e. Sunday School). One of the reasons why we do not have our “benediction” until after our “Fellowship Groups” is to place a greater spiritual onus upon each attendee to consider carefully whether or not the activity they are leaving the fellowship for would bring more glory to God than what He has expressly revealed as His will for His people.

That what time is vacant, between, or after the solemn meeting of the Congregation in public, be spent in Reading, Meditation, Repetition of Sermons, (especially, by calling their families to an account of what they have heard) and Catechizing of them, holy conferences, Prayers for a Blessing upon the public Ordinances, singing of Psalms, visiting the sick, relieving the poor, and such like duties of piety, charity, and mercy, accounting the Sabbath a delight.

I was so encouraged by the thought that our brothers and sisters before us were purposely called to repeat the sermon especially by calling the congregation “to an account of what they have heard.” Such an activity was to be done, among other things as listed above, either between meetings or after, but it was to be done for the imparting and applying of God’s truth God’s people. The bottom line is that our goal for our corporate day of worship is to delight in it as an opportunity to fully devote ourselves to God and the tasks He has called us to engage in. In short, our great goal is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” and we are to make every necessary preparation, sacrifice and labor to ensure that we ourselves, our families, our fellow believers and even as possible those outside the fellowship are taught how to worship, respect and honor the Lord.

Let me know your thoughts. And please, I humbly request that no one view me as seeking legalism. It strikes me as odd that whenever someone simply questions the "status quo" he is quickly dismissed as being legalistic. My desire is to ask ourselves why we do what we do and, does what we do glorify God?

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed