One of our younger extended family members visited over the holidays.  He holds an administrative position at one of the major Christian colleges. As we talked, I began identifying some of the changes in my generation.

A day later, and upon further thought,  I am taken back by the number of changes.

What has changed in the past number of years . . . .

• church names,
• an acceptance of a wide variety of prophetic views,
• pastoral dress,
• church music,
• fewer issues of personal separation,
• greater political involvement,
• the decreased number of church services,
• a move to more nationals as missionaries,
• more pastors coming into ministry later and from a non-biblical educational beginning,
• basic and shorter doctrinal statements,
• more mega-churches,
• a move away from “Sunday School” to small groups
• fewer individuals who can lead congregational singing,
• more “elder-lead” church polities,
• churches that are more Calvinistic & New Calvinism,
• a wider acceptance and use of different translations,
• shorter sermons,
• “church models” replacing denominations,
• “movies” used as and in illustrations,
• fewer all church choirs,
• non-church wedding locations,
• less use of organ and/or piano as the primary musical support,
• diminished attention to the Old Testament,
• more acceptance of the writings of past neo-orthodox / liberal “theologians,”
• less commitment to the creation account — a “young earth,”
• a greater “ecumenical.” attitude,
• the use of video and video clips,
• a greater acceptance of alcohol and dance,
• only one service on Sunday,
• carrying an actual Bible to church,
• a political blurring of lines with Christian truths & principles
• projected songs with no musical scores / no hymn books,
• etc.

“Good-Bad-Or-Inbetween,” — these changes are part of today’s Christian landscape.

Some are surely good, but I would suggest that most have been to the church’s detriment. They have not strengthened a ministry or local church, but weakened its effectiveness, outreach, and/or growth.

The question still remains to be answered . . . .

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”