We older folks often like to recall our younger days when life seemed so much easier and less stressful. The majority of people back then believed in God and society respected our rights to worship as we pleased. Praising God in public and sharing one’s faith seemed more natural and well received. What a difference we see today in the attitude towards God and anything to do with His word.
Did the world back then really have less to deal with? Has all the new technology and modern conveniences really made life any easier? I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1966. Just for fun, I did some research to find out how different things were back then. Here are some things I found out:
In 1966, the war in Vietnam had escalated resulting in thousands more of our young men being sent into combat. This was a war that few people supported and millions protested against every day. The Hippie lifestyle had become popular among the young people, drugs were entering our country more and more, and riots due to civil rights laws broke out across the country. That year, the country’s first mass shooting occurred in Texas. NOW, the National Organization for Women, began. John Lennon stated that the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.” The Six Day War broke out involving Israel, and the Russians put a man on the moon.
Doesn’t sound a lot different than the world or the problems we face today, though maybe on a smaller scale. Some good things happened too. The ATM machine was put in service, Mammograms were introduced in the fight against breast cancer and warning labels were placed on cigarette packages for the first time. Doritos were invented by Frito-Lay. Sprite and pop-tarts became available.
In 1966 you could buy a new car for less than $3000 and a house sold for 24,000 or less. Food prices were less: Bread was 20 cents and eggs were 50 cents a dozen, which amounts to $4.24 in today’s money.
The biggest change has been within the churches. With many denominations trying hard to conform to the desires of the world in order to recruit new members it has resulted in feel-good sermons and watered-down gospel coming from the pulpits. Many of the old beloved hymns have been shelved and replaced with more modern songs of worship. Drums and electric guitars have been added to the piano and organ, with a greater emphasis on entertainment than a blessing of movement by the Holy Spirit.
Just as in Jesus’ day, sin abounds and faith in God is not popular, but He is still at work and moving in the hearts of His people. When Jesus saw the condition of the temple back then, he turned over the tables and threw the ones out who had turned God’s house into a place of commerce. Change is constant in our world, but It’s time once again to turn the tables and get back to the original ways of teaching God’s Word. Stepping on toes and conviction is necessary if we are to see the error of our ways and allow His truth to set us free. Let’s remember, Jesus wasn’t sent to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. God’s call to us is the same today… to go into the world and spread His message. Let us be the first to answer that call.
