Skip to content

What Once Was Ought To Be Today!

What Once Was Ought To Be Today!
By Don Twobears

It’s slightly strange how we deal with many things in our lives and what is even more strange is how often these things change. Do you remember “Cat-Eyes Glasses of the 50’s” or maybe it was the “Go-Go-Boots of the 60’s”? So now when we look back on these things, we remember they were the “It” thing of that time and supposedly…for many, many years to come. We already know that is no longer true, Whom would be caught dead in those things today? No one that I know, for sure!

I am sure that way back when, in the Days of the Apostles, there were things that seemed to be so wonderful, everyone thought they would never become obsolete or out of fashion. As with everything else, they did indeed become obsolete, giving way to something else of equal or better stance in Society.

Let’s look back at some of the strange thing things we can remember of “Older Ages”. My Grand-Parents were born in the 1880’s and they remembered how people were back then. Us kids would sit in Rapt-response and giggle at what those people called everyday stuff, attitudes and the like. Because everyone seldom took baths, they would use perfume to cover their bodily smells. They would use a basin and give themselves a “Spit Bath” if you will, every morning. Later on, Saturdays became the time everyone would make sure and give themselves a Real Bath, just in time for Church Service. We had what I remember as “Sunday-Go-Meeting” Clothes, and they were only used for Sundays, which included a special pair of shoes.

After “Gunsmoke” ended, we hit the shower and then it was most important to lay out our Sunday Go to Meeting Clothes. It was the time, that I had to shine my Dads and my shoes. Yuppers, we had a shoe-shine box, with cans of colored paste that was applied to the shoes and then we had to buff them to a shine with a special Brush of soft bristles. I seriously do not know of anyone that still performs this once necessary job.

I can still remember the first time, that my Mom and Dad and us kids went to my Grandparents church. The old Church had a bell in the steeple and My Dad was asked to ring it for Sunday Services. My Dad raised me up, gave me the huge rope and told me to hang on! Then he pulled slightly on my Legs and up into the steeple I rode, with a loud gong and then heading down again and another gong, over and over again and I giggled the whole time.

Back in those days of my Youth, there was no such a thing as Air Conditioning. If it was a hot day, all the church windows were open and everyone had a hand-fan. I remember the Preacher mopping his brow and drinking water as He expounded the Word of God. Here is what was so unusual. The Men sat on the right side of the auditorium and the women were sitting on the left side. Us kids were in the back, behind glass, with a few matrons to keep us in line. See if you can find any Church that does the same thing today?!

Later on in the 1950’s and into the 1960’s they had Church Revivals inside of Tents. It would seem that my Mom and Dad searched them out to attend and they were a scary event for us kids. A Field would be cut almost to the ground, and our chairs were sitting on top of pieces of Plywood. You could look out the side of tent and watch the heat roll back and forth over the rest of the fields. They made sure there was plenty of water available and us kids got one cup of kool-aid each. It was also the fashionable thing for men to wear either Fedora’s or a western Hat, a Farmers Edition.

Today, you will not see any of these things…anywhere! The Tent Revivals are a thing of the past, churches are air conditioned now, Brick and mortar walls, mahogany Pews with comforters. The “Hell-Fire and Damnation Preachers” are a thing of history! It used to be said, “Them old Hell-fire and Damnation Preachers”, could pert-ner yell ya into Heaven!” Instead we have so many like Joel Osteen, their Perfect little smiles, their super white teeth and $1000.00 suits, speaking softly all the lies they are able to muster. My question is this, which would you rather have now days?!

I remember at some of our old churches, there would be a monthly “Pot Luck Supper” after the evening service and everyone came to it. Everyone had a dish to share with everyone else, I had a hard time with so many Potato Salads, there must have been a hundred of them. The men always brought Bar-B-Que Chicken and on occasion some Brisket. After the Preacher ate, he would stand up again and give the Lord thanks for the meal and then there was a 15 minute service once again. Still everyone loved those days…and to think…all those old people are now gone.

I can also remember those days, after the service, the women would all congregate in a corner of the Auditorium and chit-chat together. The Men all went out doors where the cigars and cigarettes would light up and they would chat among themselves, as us kids would run about catching Fire Flies. In those days, doing such things, it felt like being home. What has happened to all of that? Where are all of those people today…gone already? And what of all those kids from back then, have they forgotten all they had back then? No more Pot Luck dinners. No more togetherness. And what about the Preachers and what about their sermons…is God still there?!

I am not saying, a church must have all these things to be relevant anymore, but you would have to admit, there was something there, in those old days, that mattered. They were a group of people that came to church for the same reason, to Honor the Lord and to give HIM thanks for all things. Sunday School was important for the kids, they first learned of the Lord there. The Sermons were serious and always about the Lord God and Salvation. There was always a “Call to accept Jesus Christ at the alter”. There was always one Sunday per month when Communion was Given and Received in the Honor of the Lord God. I Remember, every time I would walk into the Sanctuary, I felt humbled, The Lord was watching, the Lord was there and you could feel Him. What about churches today?!

I know this one thing about Churches and people. A Good church begins with Hearts that are thankful of the Lord, that are humbled before His Presents and a Preacher that is NEVER afraid to speak the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We have not progressed in any manner, we have become calloused and confused, we have become belligerent and stone cold. We go to church as a Social Gathering, rather than to hear the Word of God taught as absolute Truth. We go to Sunday School because it is routine. So then my Question is, “What are YOU there for, Why even go to church? What do you seek, what is it that your heart longs for? How many still go to church to show off the their newest fashion outfit. Do you really have a reason for going? Do you truly know why the church is there in the first place? So much has been lost in our churches of today, in the people that attend these churches. Worst of all, in many of the churches today, there are Preachers that seek their fortunes, instead of GIVING the Word of God for Salvation.

You see some people do not believe there is a God! By virtue of that, they don’t believe there is a devil, a Satan and his ilk, they laugh at the Caricature of Satan in a Red Suit, with Big pointy ears and long tail, carrying a trident. They laugh right along with Satan for his thin curly Mustache, and narrow-mouthed grin. It is simply too comical for them to believe. That is too comical for me to believe!

Everyone wants a church that tells them sermons of Prosperity. They like it when they are told, that all you have to do is to ask God for money and Bingo…there it is! Now you can get that really big house and two or three really nice cars ta boot! Wow! Who would not want that…right?! Or they go to hear a Sermon that tells them how wonderful they are because God is so Loving, that you will be included in Heaven…for being so good yourself?! Who wouldn’t like to hear that?! Oh man!! “Prosperity and Feel Good Sermons” are the best!

Let’s stop right there for a moment! Please look back at the beginning of this article, where do you see anywhere, anything, referring to “Prosperity or Feeling Good about yourself?!” It didn’t exist back then!

Those back then, mostly were Farmers by Trade or Ranchers, they were well accustomed to living a hard life. They knew what it was like to scrounge around, to scratch out a living. They never thought of themselves as any better than anyone else, especially in Church! They were Humble and Grateful for all the Lord saw fit to give them, but they knew they would have to work hard for it. They understood that was just the way Life really was.

There is also, one other thing I remember from back then and it’s probably the most important part of those days. I was always amazed, when I would see people walk to the Alter and give their hearts to the Lord, their heads were bowed in real shame before the Lord. Their faces were smeared in Tears of sorrow, for their Sin. Their conviction was real and their statement of Faith was real as well and their lives began to show how they really felt, how the Lord changed them for Himself. Again…where did all of that go to?! Where is all that Shame, those tears, the Heart-felt change in ones life?!

Don’t tell me how wonderful you are, don’t tell me how religious you are, don’t tell me how much you put in the Offering Plate…Tell me how the Lord reached you, tell how the Lord has changed your Life. Tell me how much you Love the Lord and what you are doing for HIM everyday, every minute of your Life! Tell me what words you use to reach others for Jesus Christ, tell what Scripture you use, tell me how others see your Life change for Jesus. Anything else is worthless and it is worthless to everyone!

As a Born-Again Believer, have you ever noticed the Lord in every sentence in His Holy Word to us?!

The Word of God tells us how HE, the Father is Spirit. If that is the truth, of what use is there for a fancy Church Buildings with all the amenities. Of what use is anything that is physical in this life, of what use is wealth or possessions. These things are physical, therefore they are useless to God the Father who is Spirit. They are worthless to you, since your final destination is supposed to be the Spiritual residence of Heaven.

God is not some ATM machine just for you! God is not concerned with your emotions, unless it is the Emotional response to HIS calling you to Salvation through the Blood of Jesus Christ! Lets’ understand something here! God has always been, He is today as HE will be in the future! God knows each and everyone of us, He knows how many hairs are on our head and HE knows every single thought you will ever have! He knows the reason for your thoughts, He already knows what you want out of this life. If it is NOT for HIM…then your Life is worthless, from the Beginning to your end!

Maybe what is best for you and I, is to know what used to be……and make it once again….for today!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I use the King James version of the Bible and all emphasis is mine.

You may reach the Author at; [email protected]

Back To Top