****LOVE LIFTED ME

The hymn, LOVE LIFTED ME was written and published in 1912. James Rowe wrote the lyrics and his friend, Howard Smith composed the melody.

Rowe’s daughter recalled how they had worked together.  “I can see them now, my father striding back and forth humming a bar or two, and Howard playing it and then jotting it down.  The two huddled together, working line by line, bar by bar.  Howard’s hands were severely twisted with arthritis, yet he still managed to play the piano.”

The hymn is based on two biblical accounts. The first is in Matt. 8.  While Jesus was asleep in the boat, His disciples were terrified by a fierce storm.  They woke Him and appealed to Him for help.  Jesus rebuked the wind and raging sea and, at His command, everything was calm.

The second account is in Matt.14.  The disciples were out on the sea when they saw Jesus was walking toward them on the water.  When He came near, He commanded Peter to join Him.  Peter got out and walked toward Jesus but when he looked down at the water, he became frightened and began to sink.  He cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and lifted him out of the water and asked, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 

When they got into the boat, the wind suddenly stopped. And all those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Surely, You are the Son of God!”

There is a simple Gospel message in this hymn.

The first verse describes our redemption.  In our natural condition, as lost sinners, we were in imminent danger and in need of a Savior to rescue us.

Verse two describes our new life.  Only in Christ can we live, serve, and praise, Him.

The third verse is evangelistic.  It is a warning to others and a plea for them to look up and trust Jesus Christ, the only One who can save them.

The refrain declares our testimony; "When nothing else could help, LOVE LIFTED ME."

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Some are critical of this hymn only because the upbeat tempo seems unfit for the seriousness of the lyrics.  I really like this slower, more worshipful rendition by the Gaithers.

****MY RELIGION'S NOT OLD-FASHIONED

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There is an old country-western Gospel song that has been on my mind for a couple years. It was one of my mother’s favorites and I sang along with it on her record player when I was a child. 

For those of you who don’t know, records were what we used in the "old days" before eight tracks, which came before cassettes. Actually, records even pre-dated vinyl LPs (long play albums). They were made from slate.  Slate records were heavy, rigid, and fragile. They would shatter into pieces if dropped. Here’s a little record riddle for you; how many grooves are on a record? (Answer, Two; one on each side.)

These days when it seems that everyone is trying to dumb down or repackage Christianity to make it more attractive or relevant to a modern, enlightened, me-centered culture, it is comforting to know that there is nothing new under the Sun. This song was popular over a half-century ago and, apparently, they struggled then with the same slippery slope of liberalism and creeping modernism that is prevalent in Christianity today.

This song addresses the subject of TRUTH.  “What is Truth?  

That is an academic question that has been argued since creation when the serpent tempted Eve in the garden of Eden.  It comes up often in academic philosophy discussions.  After hours of debate, all the ignorant pinheads usually conclude that truth is fluid and relative; what is TRUTH for you, they say, may not be TRUTH for me.  And now, we are observing that in the classrooms of our children who are told that 2 plus 2 does not necessarily equal 4.

That kind of ignorant attitude recently surfaced in political media, when Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said to President Trump, “I reject your facts.”

That’s nonsense!  Facts are facts; if they’re not true, they’re not facts.  And the answer to the question, “What is Truth?” is simple; Truth is that which is true.

The song, MY RELIGION'S NOT OLD-FASHIONED, was written by Stuart Hamblen and made popular by Hank Snow.  OK, so it's not one that I would normally select for use in church but there are several things I like about it.  

First- unlike a lot of "praise team instrumentalists," the singers knew how to play the guitar.

Second- you can hear the lyrics over the instruments and understand them without an interpreter.

Third- The melody is technically easy and recognizable (probably because there really is a melody).

Fourth- The lyrics are wholesome.

Fifth and most importantly- I like the song for its doctrinal soundness and its solid, conservative message about the immutable nature of TRUTH.

“All Truth is God’s Truth.”  And, the truth never changes because God is Truth and He never changes.  Jesus claimed that attribute to Himself when He said, “I am the Truth.” 

The songwriter begins by declaring that there is only one real religion.  That’s because there is only One true God and only one true way to salvation.  And God revealed that way through His Son, Jesus Christ who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

The song goes on with a warning; we must be careful discerners of truth because there are many false teachers and prophets.  They stand behind pulpits, twist scripture, and speak beautiful words.  They will tell us that God didn’t really mean what the Bible tells us.  Those false preachers are snakes just like that serpent in the Garden and they will lead their followers to destruction.

Lots of people try to fit God into their own molds and practice religions that make them feel good.  But the One and Only True, Unchanging God has ordained an unchanging Gospel that still saves sinners today the same way He saved sinners in the past; by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.   

 
You can hear it as originally recorded by Stuart Hamblen, on this video clip. I have reprinted the lyrics below:

MY RELIGION'S NOT OLD FASHIONED

There is but one real religion that redeems the sinners soul.

It's as timeless as the ages and it never will grow old.

My Lord gave the key to Thomas, "I'm the Way, the Truth, the Life,"

And that Way has never changed since He spoke the Words that night.

In this world of wild confusion, we are often led astray,

When we hear the words 'old fashioned' as men speak of God today.

My Lord doesn't deal in fashion, He's more timeless than the seas

And His Words still hold the power as they did in Galilee.

Some are prone to take the Bible and dilute the Words of Christ.

They admit He came here one time but He'll never make it twice.

Be not tempted by those "prophets" - He said such men would arise;

There is darkness in their teaching but there's life in Jesus Christ.

chorus

My religion's not old-fashioned but it's real genuine.

Two and two make four today as it did in my Lord's time.

Modern days don't make a difference you can't alter truth or time.

My religion's not old-fashioned but it's real genuine.