On Friday, Steve Teel made a comment on Thursday’s post, an insightful thought that doesn’t deserve to languish in the comment section. Steve is a former missionary to Argentina who now preaches for the Hendersonville Church of Christ in North Carolina.

Steve said:

Tim, what do you suppose would be the snap shoot, or the bullet points on the North American Christian movement 50 years ago? 1961?
1. Racism prevades the Christian church. A number of “Christians” participated in a recent lynching in South Carolina (actually happened), and vowed that the KKK was founded on Biblical principles.
2. Christian colleges are staunch on their segragation policies, “after all there are Black schools for them to attend.”
3. Despite the growing number of studies against smoking, a majority of Christian men smoke at least two packs a week.
4. In the churches of Christ, large numbers of churches are taking a stand against orphan homes. Outsiders see it as a power play, though long public debates defend the split on doctrinal reasons.
5. Spousal abuse remains a closet topic among Christians. A new study, however, indicates that beating a wife falls within the range bringing her into subjection as dictated in Ephesians 5.

That’s a great reminder. It’s easy to look at the church today and say, “Oh, things are getting so bad.” However, if we look objectively, each era has its own problems. It’s not that we have challenges today whereas there were none in other times. We have different challenges today.

Any thoughts? Would you add to Steve’s analysis of the church in 1961? Any thoughts about the implications of the fact that each generation faces a different set of challenges?

“Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10)