My Religion's Not Old Fashioned But It's Real Genuine

I don’t know why, for some reason, an old song keeps coming back to mind these last few weeks. I remember this old record from my childhood. It was one of my mother’s favorites and I played it and sang along when I was about eight years old.

For those of you who don’t know, records are what we used to have 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 trivia riddle for you; how many grooves are there on a record? (Answer, Two; one on each side.)

Anyway, back to the subject – the song that keeps haunting me is an old country/western Gospel song titled, “My Religion’s Not Old Fashioned.” As near as I can tell, it was written and recorded by Hank Snow but I think the recording my mother had was sung by Stuart Hamblin.

These days when it seems that everyone is trying to dumb down or repackage Christianity so it is 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.

OK, so the song is not one that I would select for use in church.  It is a little hokie; it's not your typical modern country music where your wife is cheating and your truck is wrecked and your dog ran away and there's no more whiskey in the bottle. But there are several things I like about it.

First, the singer actually knows how to play the guitar. Second, the lyrics are wholesome. Third, anyone can hear the lyrics over the instruments and understand them without an interpreter. Fourth, the melody is easily recognized (that's because there really is a melody). And finally, I like the song for its doctrinal soundness and its solid, conservative message that Truth is unchanging; the same Gospel that saved sinners then still works today.

You can hear it as originally recorded on this video clip. I have reprinted the words below:

MY RELIGION'S NOT OLD FASHIONED

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

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

My Lord Jesus, he's the power; he’s the way, the truth, the life,

And that way has never changed since he spoke the words out loud.

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 Gallilee.

Some are prone to take the Bible and usurp the words of Christ.

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

Do not tempt the Bible's prophecies as such men rue their life,

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

chorus

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

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

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

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