by: Dr. Bruce Goddard
Some have attempted to rethink their early choices for the old-time religion, soul winning, standards, separation and holy living. Not me! Some have acted like their troubles were rooted in their fundamental faith. Sorry, I don’t buy that. Our sorrows are rooted in this sinful world. Our sorrows are rooted in our own lack of obedience to God. Our sorrows are rooted in the satanic influences in our homes and families through school, friends, TV, the media and countless other ills; but no, our sorrows are not rooted in the loving words of our Lord in the Bible.
Those wonderful words are Hope, strength and Life.
John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.”
Deuteronomy 32:46-47, “And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it [is] not a vain thing for you; because it [is] your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong [your] days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
My faith is settled in two godly old preachers and a Bible. No, I’ll not trade a thing! My faith was set and though trials come, by God’s grace, I’ll not turn back on the things God has taught me.
When I was introduced to fundamental Christianity, I had no idea it had a name. I thought it was Bible obedience. I assumed if you changed the Bible you were simply wrong. I read where the Bible said some things about fashioning yourselves after this world and we were not to follow it. It is simple Bible, not some label.
I learned to share my faith long before I heard the term soul winning. It was logical, I was saved, others were not, go tell them like someone told me. Of course, any decent believer would want to tell others how to get to Heaven. It wasn’t about fundamentalism, or Old-Fashioned Christianity, it was about honoring the Bible and good sense.
At 18, I stood at a secular college party, booze everywhere, and I realized that no one knew my glass only had soda in it. I put it down and left, I knew from Bible reading and the conviction of the Holy Spirit that I could not attend parties, no matter what I drank or who I was with. It was not a fundamental separatist belief, some things are not a matter of Fundamentalism, but Bible reading and seeking to honor God. I’d never heard a sermon on booze or separation, it was clear in the Bible that the place was wrong; all of it was wrong.
Change? Sure, I’d change some things. I’d read the Bible more, walk closer to God, be more careful with my money. I’d pay more attention to people who were hurting. But change my faith? Not on your life. This has been a great life, and I’m looking forward to what God does next.
These kids, my wife, the grandkids in Sunday school, bus routes, my wife teaching an adult ladies Bible class where 50 or so ladies come weekly to be helped, our annual ladies, conference with as many as 500 ladies coming to learn to walk with God, stay pure in an impure world, would I trade all that for an easier life?
Would I trade my kids who preach, win souls and teach Sunday school? Would I trade our annual Youth Conference? Would I trade the preachers who were trained in our ministry, would I trade missionaries across the world who were reached through the old-time religion for a few rock songs and pants on women? Right! What kind of fool do you think I am?
No, I’ll stick with the wonderful words of life. I’ll keep on the old ways, though some rookie who never made a difference in his life may mock it. I’m staying right in where I started, and yes, as the song says, “I’d do it all again, and so much more.”
Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA