39 thoughts on “GOH: The Old Fashioned Meeting (With Extended Intro)”

    1. If you feel that what happens here strays often into the territory of “scorn,” some reconsideration may be beneficial. Criticism of the flaws in IFB – which are legion, as those of us who have been hurt by IFB can attest – is a legitimate activity, not closely related to what is discussed in the article to which you’ve linked.

    2. “God money’s not looking for the cure. God money’s not concerned about the sick among the pure. God money, let’s go dancing on the backs of the bruised.”

      Yeah, kinda sounds like fundamentalist Christians to me. Maybe you’d better check who your God really is.

    3. The article is interesting at many levels.

      Part of the problem is our Fundy urge to find one set of principles and rules to replace the principles and rules so many of us discarded when we left our Fundy churches.

      So, yes, we do lash out.

      But the solution is not to try to take my current thoughts, how I feel today, and make it into a new Statement of Faith.

      If you re-read Luther’s 96 thesis, you will find a whole bunch of irrelevant issues that had to do only with the specific happenings in Luther’s town, at that time.

      Will we revel sometimes at the scorn we come up with? Yes. Is that the best use of our time? probably not.

      But what you (and the article at some levels) seem to be suggesting is that we should not open our mouths until we have figured out a coherent, compassionate, loving and more importantly a complete world view.

      By that standard Luther and just about every prophet out there should have stayed quiet for a long, long time.

      That is simply not the way our human brain works.

  5. After being in Canada for 4 years it’s good to hear this man’s voice inflections. He reminds me of my paternal grandpa who was from the south. He and my grandma along with my dad never lost their southern accents though they lived in Michigan for many years.

    As for what he said, well if “fundamentalism” consisted only of “God be merciful to me a sinner” it would be fine but I know many of us who post here, that word signifies a lot more and it’s not all positive or we wouldn’t be here. I still believe in the fundamentals of the faith but not in the IFB movement!

    God bless this old gentleman, his heart is in the right place. šŸ˜‰

    1. “As for what he said, well if ā€œfundamentalismā€ consisted only of ā€œGod be merciful to me a sinnerā€ it would be fine…”

      That’s what I thought. If only fundamentalism was this easy.

    2. Thou shalt shoot first and neither asketh nor answereth any questions afterward.

      I wonder if J. Frank Norris inspired Shacha Baron Cohen’s latest work? “The Dictator”

  8. This has been the theme song, for years, of The People’s Gospel Hour broadcast out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. PGH was founded by a renegade ex-Presbyterian minister named Perry F. Rockwood, who was defrocked by his denomination for being so pugnacious. He founded an independent church; his congregation put up with him for a few years and then THEY asked him to leave. Finally, he settled down in Halifax and got his radio program going, which somehow (inexplicably) managed to attract a literally worldwide following via shortwave, Christian radio stations, and such big outlets as WWVA. He passed away several years ago, but the taped broadcasts are still being syndicated.

    Rockwood was a great admirer of the famous Canadian IFB fundamentalist T.T. Shields and, like Shields (and most other IFBs), was against everything and everyone who didn’t agree with him.

    šŸ™„

    1. We used to hear Perry F. Rockwood every Sunday afternoon when I was a kid. I think he came on right after Dr. David Allen from Hazel Park, MI. Chuck Ohman, Van Impe’s announcer, did the announcing for for David Allen and was his minister of music.

      Anyway, back to Perry, you could tell he was a fundamentalist through and through, though occasionally, he’d say or do something that a Baptist Fundamentalist, like B. Myron Cedarholm, would take exception to, like encouraging all of his radio audience to participate in a radio broadcast communion service. With Cedarholm, everything had to be done by, though, in, of (“and any other preposition you can think of”) the local church.

      As far as the song goes, there’s nothing like worshiping the “old fashioned way”, especially when you realize your “old fashioned way” was new to the preceding generations.

  9. I think that there is a not to subtle link between the J. Frank Norris Historical Society and the view that fundamentalism is “remember me”. Both are into memories of yesterday. Remember Roy.

  10. J. Frank Norris once had mega-church, a newspaper, a radio ministry and countless followers. Itā€™s now appears Norrisā€™ descendents and most of fundieland have chosen to forget about him and for good reason. For someone with an ego as large as Norrisā€™, there is some justice it that.

  11. You know, beyond the whole man worship thing, I hope to Gid that all the young men in my church end up loving God with this dudes enthusiasm. When I’m old, I want to have the same passion as this guy.

  12. Ugh. Our Fundy choir sings this. And yes, our Pastor does occasionally go off on a tangent/rant about how modern songs don’t mean anything but the music in our church is meaningful and God-pleasing and blah, blah, blah…

    1. I sang this in Teen Choir many years ago. I have to say, for a fundy church we had a pretty good teen choir. The youth group did all the music every Wednesday night.

    2. For a while, I believed those rants because I didn’t know better. Then I grew uncomfortable with them. Now I’m just thankful that I don’t have to listen to them anymore.

      I just cannot comprehend the hubris of Christians who dare to judge another believer and claim that their music isn’t worthy. They’re like the Pharisees looking down at the woman worshipping Christ by pouring her perfume on his feet or Michal mocking David’s dancing in the street over the ark’s return.

      1. I cannot believe for years I didn’t see a link between my brand of fundamentalism and the attitudes of the Pharisees. Of course, the Pharisees didn’t have to put up with CCM. Now, that is something entirely difference. I guess, I think, why surely it must be, perhaps………..eh, maybe not!

  13. I guess I’d have to look further into this guy to see what he’s all about. He sort of reminds me of my grandpa. He prefered old styles of worship sevices and was old school in his views. However, he was also astonishingly humble. He once told me that he thought it was a sin for people of different races to marry, and he cited the O.T. verses that talk about Israel not marrying other nations.
    I explained that I thought that had to do with marrying someone of a different faith like 1 Corinthians 7 talks about and that it had nothing to do with race. He responded with, “yeah I suppose it could mean that too.”
    I was astounded at the humility of a man much wiser and better than myself; exspecially an older man. Just because someone likes some of the older traditions doesn’t mean they should be dismissed. Peter Hitchens’ book “The Rage Against God” changed a lot of my perspective on tradition and modernisation. I’d recommend it.

  14. What a cute, sincere old man! I hope when I get to be his age I am still as passionate about something. Granted, it won’t be J. Frank Norris. Cats, maybe? I do remember hearing many sermons preached about J. Frank Norris growing up since my church was a big fan of him, but I only recently learned about the whole self-defense flap. Funny how that never gets mentioned.

  15. Reminds me of my grandpa who was a IFB pastor for a long, long time. While I disagree with the legalism and man worship of the IFB, I do think this lil guy is sincere, just mistaken or misdirected about fundamentalism. I don’t to this day, even having been raised in IFB, understand what all the “old-fashioned” thing is about. If you read history at all, “old-fashioned” people were not any more pious or sinless than we are today. I just don’t get that. Oh and as a piano player, that poor piano needs some serious help. Ugh.

    1. I think this old guy and many fundies just want to reverse the clock to the “good ol’ days” of the 30’s – 50’s…like everyone back then was a good Bible-believing Christian…or at least looked the part. It’s a little sad when these folks can’t let go of the “traditions” that have become the face of fundamentalism. Also, this guy seems to be more than a little confused on the origins/meaning of the fundamentist movement…of course, it seems that most fundies are. In regards to Frank Norris, if the history of Temple Baptist, his large church in Detroit, is any indication, he must have been quite the racist…I’d slot him right in behind the Jonses.

    2. My grandfather, born in the 1890s (and no, I am NOT that old, he was just a bit of a cradle-robber), was the son of his sister. Yep … little bit of a scandal that needed to be covered up post-haste.

      So yeah … people then were no different than they are today. They might’ve hidden their “misdeeds” better, in some cases (like my grandfather’s mom/sister), but they were still doing the same basic things …

    1. It’s not “Old School”
      It’s “Old Paths”

      Remember, since God was kicked out of School, Fundies have adopted the Acts 4:13a philosophy of higher learning.

      1. Thank you sir for that reminder. I count it an honor to be directed back to the old paths that lead to the ark of safety. And i’m sure i’ll have to make a public apology for posting the video that may or may have inappropriate ads on a non-approved site.

        *writes own demerit*

        šŸ˜›

        1. Now go say (7) Zeig Hyles and listen to a Phil Kidd sermon

          Hail Jack, naught of grace.
          Our Lord is thee.
          Blessed art thou among women,
          and blessed is thy Fruit of the Looms.
          Holy crap! Father of Fundiedom,
          preying on us sinners,
          guilting now and unto the hour of our death.
          Hwy-men.

  18. I sure hope the lady sitting next to him is his wife wearing modest apparel with a skirt that drags at least 3 inches on the ground.

  19. It’s Leonard from Community!

    “Shut up Leonard, I know about your prescription socks.”

  20. I grew up in the 50’s and what I remember growing up is that we had family bible prayer every night of the week …….. we did not stay up watching some filthy mouthed David Letterman or watch some naked show on TV like Dancing With the Stars. Nowadays, mom and dad work and the kids raise themselves and don’t get one on one, much less bible lessons at home. At church we had a real altar and people were saved, coming to that altar with real tears. We NEVER saw rock n roll music in church, always older hymns, unlike today in most churches. Nowadays, it’s rare to find any church which plays and sings only the old hymns, churches today have compromised on so many levels! Those are the kinds of old fashioned values that were instilled in me. I never heard preachers talk “give me money and God will heal you” message. The messages I always heard were about how to be saved and the reality of heaven AND hell. The Fundamental Baptist churches are thinning out. Sad. People now don’t want to hear the truth, they would rather hear a “feel good message” … and they get that with a lot of the Non-denominational churches….which are growing bigger and faster every day.

    Sin was prevalent then, yes, but the gospel messages were “clear and plain” and not some diluted, watered down syrupy love message that leaves out the plan of salvation.

    Back in the old fashioned days the only reason people did not go to church is because they did not want to be reminded that they (all) are sinners. Nowadays, the masses flock to the churches, because they don’t have to hear the “real” truth and about sin … it’s mostly about loving one another and a pumped up message about being a “good” person, which is the primary message………..it’s like Zig Ziglar in the pulpit! No thank you, I can pull myself up by own bootstraps.

    Sorry, but no “feel good” so-called preachers like Joel Osteen or Joyce Meyer AND no Benny Hinn “healers” and the like for me …………. JUST the “old fashioned preachers”, thank you.

    BTW: This old man is still “cookin’ in the kitchen” … and I’m sure he can still “take the heat.”

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