What I share with you below may seem archaic. Even unbelievable in this society in which we live. However, it reveals how the bar of God's standard continues to lower in every generation.
I grew up as a child never entering a movie theater. It was considered evil. My mother, who has since passed away, never went into a movie theater in her life. Nor did my husband's mother! When I was older and began to go to a "good" movie, I remember saying to my mother, "Mother, you could come and see this movie. It is totally wholesome." But she replied, "Oh no, the Lord might come while I am there!" And she wouldn't want to be found in a movie theater if the Lord came for her!
But of course, when television came in, all standards went out the door. Now, many Christians receive into their homes all the filth and rubbish of the world. They watch adultery and fornication, and worse, without batting an eye! Many Christians go off to every new movie that comes without any discretion! No wonder we don't see the power of God moving in our midst today. We are a lukewarm people--overcome with mediocrity, complacency, ordinariness, passivity, and middle-of-the-road blindness!
What about church? When I was a young girl we worshipped together as a family in the morning. We would never think of missing church--rain, hail or snow! Never any excuses! We came home for lunch and then us children walked back for Sunday School in the afternoon (a couple of miles). Then we attended the Sunday evening service.
Next generation . . . instead of three times a day, we got down to two--morning and evening church.
Now, we are down to one service in the morning and that's it! Help, with so many Christian families not committed to church will we be having one service in the next generation?
What about family life? We have so many wonderful godly families in the nation who are raising godly children. And yet sadly, across Christendom, the majority of families have the mindset of the world. They have limited their families to two children. They are so excited when they have their son and daughter, and think, that’s it!
I remember talking to an elderly gentleman on one of my flights. He told me that his father came from a family of ten children and he came from a family of six. “How many children did you have?” I asked. “Two,” he replied. Very typical. Ten, six, two! Every generation has less children. Degeneration. Falling away from God’s original plan and purpose for mankind. We have become victims of a humanistic society. The blind leading the blind into the ditch!
It was normal to sit together as a family to eat meals. To communicate with one another. Now, if families do sit together they bring their iPhones to the table! They don’t even communicate face to face. Now that really is degeneration!
Perhaps the statement is true: “Each generation is one generation away from degeneration.” In the midst of lethargy, tolerance of sin, and deception, let's keep seeking after God and His truth with all our hearts. Let's not only do this individually, but as FAMILIES. Let's take our families with us as we shine as lights for God in a crooked and deceived generation. Let’s be truth-seekers rather than victims.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell