Version A | Version B |
| Religion as of olden times | Religion as of olden times |
| Has most come to a pause. | Has most come to a pause, |
| And every one is looking. | And everyone is looking. |
| And some say they've found the cause. | And some say, they've found the cause. |
| Some will say, "Just follow me, | One will say, "Just follow me, |
| For God gave me a plan." | For God gave me a plan." |
| Most people know the stage was set, | Most people know the stage was set |
| Before he e'er began. | Before he e'er began. |
| Another says, "Come; go with me. | Another says, "Come go with me; |
| I've found the modern way. | I've found the modern way. |
| Just come and see the miracles | Just come and see the miracles |
| I'm doing every day." | I'm doing every day." |
| God gave him power to do these things, | God gave him power to do these things |
| He said that he should do. | He said that we should do |
| We know he's doing all he can, | We know he's doing all he can, |
| But still it's nothing new | But still it's nothing new. |
| Another says, "Just watch my church | Another says, "Just watch; |
| Grow stronger every day." | My church grows larger every day." |
| He thinks that numbers make a church, | He thinks that numbers make a church, |
| But God don't work that way | But God don't work that way. |
| God wants a church that always goes | God wants a church that always goes, |
| According to His plan | According to His plan, |
| And not a church that's made and built | And not a church that's made and built |
| By just a single man | By just a single man. |
| Another says, "Come to my church. | Another says, "Come to my church; |
| Let other churches go." | Let other churches go." |
| He says he does not proselyte. | He says he does not proselyte. |
| What's this we'd like to know? | What's this we'd like to know? |
| He says, "We have our social life. | "Oh, yes, we have our social life,< |
| We surely think it's fine. | And we just think it's fine. |
| And when we have another feast, | And when we have another feast, |
| We'll ask you in to dine." | We'll ask you in to dine." |
| Where is that church we used to know? | Where is that church we used to know? |
| Its name I can't recall. | Its name I don't recall. |
| But who are we to care for names? | But who are we to care for names? |
| God's word was preached to all. | God's word was preached to all. |
| That old time preacher spoke the word | That old time preacher spoke the word. |
| He made it good and plain | He made it good and plain. |
| For us to have the grace of God | For us to have the grace of God, |
| We must be born again | We must be born again. |
| The churches are all different now | The churches are all different now; |
| They all have separate schools | They have separate schools. |
| They educate their preachers | They educate their preachers, |
| And they teach them all new rules | And they learn them all new rules |
| While all the time they should be taught | While all the time they should be taught |
| There is never nothing new | There's never anything new. |
| Christ said do unto others as | Christ said, "Do unto others |
| Ye would they'd do to you | As ye would they'd do to you." |
| Some say do this some say do that | Some say do this; some say do that; |
| All have a special way | All have a special way. |
| If you don't follow their advice | They try to tell you how to go. |
| You'll get in the wrong they say | If you don't, "You're lost," they say. |
| Some will divide and split a church | Some will divide and split a church |
| And say this is the hour | And say, "This is the hour." |
| It's only Satan creeping in | It's just old Satan creeping in |
| To rob the church of power | To cheat the church of power, |
| What God needs upon this earth | What God needs upon this earth |
| Is a church that is all His own | Is a church that's all His own. |
| Where everyone can worship Him | Where everyone can worship Him |
| And not feel all alone, | And not feel all alone, |
| A gathering place for every one | A gathering place for everyone |
| Of every race and creed | Of every race or creed. |
| Where they can come and worship Him | Where they can come and worship Him, |
| For He's the one they need | For He's the one they need. |
| Christ, our Lord, He soon will come | Christ, our Lord, He soon will come |
| To gather all His sheep | To gather all His sheep |
| From every land from every race | From every land and every clime |
| And from the raging deep | And from the raging deep. |
| My friend, don't sit there in a church | My friend, don't sit there in a church |
| With walls built all around | With walls built all around, |
| For only with the marching saints | For only with the saints of God |
| Will God's elect be found | Will His elect be found! |
| "Will the circle be unbroken?" | "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" |
| Is a song they love to sing, | Is a song they've learned to sing. |
| Thinking only of that number | Think only of the number, |
| Found there in that special ring. | Found there in their special ring. |
| "We're God chosen," they will tell you; | "We are God's chosen," they will tell you; |
| "No one else has paid the cost. | "No one else has paid the cost. |
| If you won't join in our circle, | If you won't join in our circle, |
| There is no hope for you; you're lost." | There's no help for you; you're lost." |
Text of Hymn: "Churches," © Icie E. Sandy Rowand, 2002, all rights reserved.
Web page design and original graphics © Betty Sandy Smith, all rights reserved.