I have a theory that I want to share and get everyone's opinion. I have an idea that in the last 50 years, Christianity has become far more polarized in North America. What I mean, is that I think there's less fence sitting. There are fewer people who are indifferent about Christ. What you have now are more people who are on-fire for Christ and really living for Him and standing up for Him, and more people who are, what I would call, radical atheists. They actively oppose and defy Christ in their attitudes and lifestyle.

I'm only 36 so I cannot tell you what life was like in the 60's or earlier, but from what little I know of history is seems like religion was less of an issue back then. I get the impression that the vast majority of people were Christians but of a "Sunday-only" variety. There are a lot less of those people today and more people who are passionate, one way or the other. I think this polarization represents a trend toward a clearer dividing line of those who are for and those who are against Christ, perhaps leading up to the end-times. Thoughts, anyone? Am I way off-base on is this a legitimate trend?

4/27/2007 9:14:15 AM by marklang, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/3/2007

I'm not sure I agree, or maybe I don't understand. I'm younger than you by 15 years so I'm even less "qualified" to talk about this, but things seem like they are going one way - down. There is more violence, profanity, nudity, depravity and immorality. There is less consideration, manners, concern, love and understanding. It may appear that there is a surge in what you call "on-fire" Christianity, but those are the circles we move in. Perhaps you are noticing all the people who are joining our ranks, but not the ones who are leaving. Our elders might take offense at the notion that today, we practice a more "real" faith. Anyway, that's my opinion - things are getting totally worse, and not better in any way that I can see. It's sad and must grieve the Lord tremendously.

4/29/2007 6:00:03 PM by tom, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/26/2007

I think I have some idea of what Mark is talking about. I look at events like "Acquire the Fire" and groups like "Promise Keepers". These events keep growing and growing! It really seems like people are hungry for something more. Maybe events and groups like this come and go all the time and we're not aware of it, or maybe Mark is right and they are gaining momentum. I'm not sure. I certainly seem Tom's point - while all this is going on for Christ, mainstream media has taken a dive. After 9:00 PM on Canadian TV, anything goes - nudity, four letters words - everything. It makes me crazy! How can people continue to protest that a little violence and nudity on TV are totally fine, but then wonder why their kids are out of control, having promiscuous sex and lacking any respect for authority? Where do you think they learned that? Come on people! You can't have it both ways - you can't complain that kids are out of control and complain that media is too stuffy and conservative. Oops..I ranted...sorry. I think I'll go write a reflection now.

5/1/2007 6:41:48 AM by arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries

Part of what I'm saying is that things have gotten so bad morally and ethically in our culture that Christians can't ignore it anymore and we're starting to fight back. 50 years ago, there was nothing to fight and so perhaps Christians were a little more casual about their faith. Today, we have to defend it while at the same time, doing what we can to keep society from crumbling. You can't be a Christian and just sit back anymore. You can't ignore what's going on around us. This is what might be at the heart of the polarization I'm talking about. Whenever there's a fight, everyone has to pick sides and so that is what's happening. The battle lines are drawn and it's clear where everyone stands. Sorry if this sounds bleak, but in my opinion, we're not just falling into moral decay, we're accelerating.

5/3/2007 8:30:46 AM by marklang, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/3/2007

I think I understand what Mark is saying. I see bestsellers from these militant atheists like Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins and I think that this kind of garbage was not going on 50 years ago. I might not see what Mark sees in terms of Christians getting organized and fighting back, but the non-Christians/atheists are certainly getting more than their fair share of airtime and media attention.

6/10/2007 8:18:53 PM by tom, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/26/2007

This culture sucks man. I think it is all getting badder by the day. You gotta be where I am sometimes to see how bad its gotten cause I see the worst at my job and I know some dudes who used to be good but they went rotten because of evil stuff around them cause it was right there. I man, try to stay away from that stuff because I think it is like pollution, it is only going to get worse like our planet is getting so bad man. Pollution gets worse and then it clouds your vision, you know what I mean?

7/12/2007 1:58:19 PM by Paul Tillsonburg, Member of Delve into Jesus since 7/12/2007

It seems to me that a quick look into history clearly shows there is "nothing new under the sun" as far as sin is concerned. Christians can bemoan how bad things have gotten, how much sex and violence splashes across their tv, but it's not like it hasn't been done before. I will agree that the availability of vice in this culture has exploded right along with the acceptance of loquacious atheists. Still, the goal of Christ was to serve and love and point to God even in the midst of tense politics and lasciviousness. The original poster had a great point in mentioning the lack of fence-sitting because of where American culture is headed. Again, looking at history this might be a veiled blessing. Christians in the US might finally have to really figure out what they believe and own it so to speak. Christianity tends to thrive in persecuted environments.

10/16/2007 12:57:35 PM by csalzman, Member of Delve into Jesus since 10/16/2007

Csalzman, welcome the the site, and thanks for your post. You make an excellent point. I was comparing North American values and morality today to that of 50 years ago, and I think the decline is drastic. But if you compare that with what was going on among pagans in Rome and Athens thousands of years ago, well, I think we would be horrified by what they did and grateful we are not nearly as bad as that!

10/16/2007 1:11:36 PM by arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries

What's different now is the technology. I am not one to complain about technology - it's how I make my living - but it has given people the ability to sin more often and to a greater degree than ever before. Throughout history, the real perverts always did what they did, but those basically normal men and woman with the occasional indecent urge stayed pure at least in part because it was not easy to get into trouble. Today, there are websites which encourage and promote adultery. Pornography is never more than a mouse-click away. You can't blame technology, for in and of itself, it is neutral, but what it has done is given men the ability to easily be as wicked as they want to be, and how wicked they are turning out to be!

10/16/2007 1:12:31 PM by tom, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/26/2007

Hi.I'm new here and have only begun to scan this site.Thought I'd make a comment here.I recall telling my mom how things back in her day-50s-seemed so innocent.She said no,it was just as bad then only we were quieter about it.I don't know about that.Maybe so.But I agree what was said about technology.Bad things are just too easy to get to.But remember,God sees everything.

12/3/2007 4:12:02 AM by Alison, Member of Delve into Jesus since 11/25/2007

Alison,

Welcome, thanks for joining the site and this discussion. You make a good point. Everything I know about the 50s is from movies, TV and books. I should sit down and have a good chat with the parents and ask them what it was really like. I don't think the time we live in now is well represented by the media - I think it's better than it's portrayed. Watching the news makes me feel like we all have 20 minutes left to live. Perhaps the opposite was true 50 years ago.

12/3/2007 8:37:59 AM by marklang, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/3/2007

We absolutely can not deny the role of media. I am from India, and up until the last 25 years our media was restricted to a local station (where I would have to confess the best things on tv were the ads!). Our movies showed a kissing couple from the back of their heads where you couldn't even tell what they were upto! But you should see our tv shows and movies now and running right along side it is rise in teenage pregnancies, violence in the schools, foul language, etc.

Getting to Marklang's point, I think it's come to a point where Christians cannot afford to sit on the fences! We have too much to lose now, our family life, our children! The war is getting heated. The attacks are more ferocious! Satan knows his time is almost up.

1/13/2008 5:53:05 AM by Sandya, Member of Delve into Jesus since 1/7/2008

My home church split in the 1880's over matters of predestination and election... for a bunch of good old boy farmer types to be that into theology to actually split a church 120 years ago..... well, I think they had a lot more scriptural accumen than most of us do today.

As far as morality and such.... things pretty much have always been crazy, my dad grew up in the depression era, and there was as much if not more sinful activity back then than there is today, the thing is, as someone else alluded to it was hidden.

The Breen office kept Hollywood pretty clean for the most part, same with fcc regs on the early days of TV. Now with cable and such, its a lot more in your face...

With cellphone video cams, there is also a ton more accountability than ever possible too. There is also much greater awareness of moral issues in the secular world, ie sexual abuse and such.... things swept under the carpet in the 50's and 60's now make the front page of the newspaper. I don't think its all bad... a lot more folks are getting pulled off the streets, and sooner than they used to, same deal with those in the church... Folks are too aware to let things slide at any level. That is an encouraging sign in some ways..... but its hard to get back to thinking of a couple of good old boys 120 years ago arguing theology.

5/28/2008 8:59:10 PM by mnphysicist, Member of Delve into Jesus since 5/28/2008

I've been thinking about this ever since your post, and I think I have a clearer understanding of the original point of this discussion.

I don't think the issue is sin, I think it's rebellion. You mentioned that a half-century ago, the sin was hidden, and I'm sure that's true. The fact that it was hidden speaks to the fact that either the sinner, society, or both, knew it was wrong. There was shame. Today, the shame is gone.

So, I don't think the quantity of sin is the issue, I think it's the attitude towards sin. Outright rebellion is more prevalent today - people are sinning without regret and without fear of consequence. Sinners are not trying to hide their sin from God and others, they are flaunting it because their either don't believe in God, or are angry with Him.

About a hundred years ago, Nietzsche proclaimed that "God is dead" and in one respect, he was right. Society has killed God and declared it's independence. Now, we are seeing the consequences of that choice.

So, that's my feeling about what has changed - and I think it's clear that something has changed.

5/29/2008 7:08:47 AM by arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries

I have too largely disagree. I am only 18 but just graduating from High School 75 of people would say they are christians but those who live it out.... maybe 5 figure this in a school of 2200 kids 50 showed up to Pray at the Pole (highly sponcered by Church youth groups ) Natinal day of Prayer less than 25 showed up. In my life it seems more wishy washy

6/5/2008 5:58:54 PM by Nxaxtxe777, Member of Delve into Jesus since 6/5/2008