Golden Era?

If you've been around Christianity or the church very long, it's likely you've read or heard a comment about 'the church nowadays' and how people are less orthodox, and preachers don't teach the Word of God anymore or other such concerns (many of which, by the way, are adequately justified). Often in conversation about this generation it is said that people have lost respect for God or that He just isn't as important to people as he used to be.

Granted, many of these statements have statistical backing; but I'm concerned that we do not look back nostalgically to an era that was supposedly more "God-fearing" than this one. What generation would we look to? The 1950's? Take an hour listening to your favorite 50's station, and you'll hear the same fast-and-loose attitude toward relationships that is still on the radio today. So then 1920's right? But the early 19th century saw some harsh textual critics arise from a liberal movement within Christian circles. 1850's? The generation that gave us natural selection. Modernism and naturalism prevailed in the 1800's. How about the 1700's? Jonathan Edwards himself fought promiscuity among his youth and heterodox rationalistic movements among his peers. Calvin's time? Libertines. Luther's era? Romanists.

This line of thought can be taken all the way back to Jesus' time. "Even if this era is no worse than others, certainly things would be better if Jesus were here," some may think. But in His time, Pharisees mishandled the Word, Sadducees lived immorally, and the people had him killed. And after he rose, His church was soon persecuted and infiltrated with false teachers who led some astray.

But the church prevailed. Why? Because Jesus was with them, and He said He would build His church. For that same reason the church will prevail today. For those wishing Jesus were here, wish no longer: He is here; we serve a risen Savior. Don't look to some bygone era wistfully and miss the fact that every generation in the church has had its difficulties, but Christ is still the Captain of this team, and with Him leading the way, we will never lose. So let's look to Him with heads held high as we struggle with all his strength to lift His name up in this fallen world.

References: Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:27-29