Remembering Church As I Use To Be

While making pastoral visits the other day I happened to go by a church that is meeting in the facilities of my old home church.  Although the name has changed the place is still very much the same.  Memories began to flash through my mind as I sat in the "sanctuary" with the pastor.  I sat in the vacinity where I sat on a particular Sunday evening after praying in the pastors office to receive Christ. I would make my public confession of faith that night.


Now there is a sound system (We just had loud preachers).  A beautiful baby grand piano flanks the pulpit area.  The pulpit is in the shape of a cross.  I liked that.  I did notice that the room where the deacons used to meet is now a ladies restroom.  Not sure why I mentioned that.

Those were good days.  We had preachers that preached the gospel unashamed.  We had song leaders that could sing down glory.  People dressed up for church in those days.  You wore back on Sunday night what you wore on Sunday morning on most occasions.  Everybody went to church.  I thought!  We had All Day Singings and Dinner on the ground.  When we had homecoming we invited the Methodists.  When they had Homecoming they returned the favor.

I remember riding to church one morning sitting in the back seat of a 56 Pontiac.  Dad was driving, mom was up front and my brother and I were in the back seat.  I remember seeing a man mowing his lawn.  We called it "cuttin grass" back then.  As we passed by I said, "That man is gonna be late for church!"  You see I thought everybody went to church.  

As we walked those halls it was almost as if I could see Miss Ada and Mrs Patterson my Sunbeam teachers.  I pictured the "scoreboards" on the wall where the attendance figures were posted.  Unfortunately, I could picture some of the men of the church on the steps smoking their cigarettes.  And I had quite a few memories of hearing my mom and dad threaten my life and particular body parts if I didn't stop running in church.

I am so thankful that my early days included the church, the gospel and people of great faith.  I am so glad that we had preachers, evangelists and singers in our home often.  I am so glad that my parents taught my brother and I by example to love and honor those who preach the Word.