Not So Golden Age

Today at the YMCA I heard from one of the members that the Supreme Court is looking at the issue of censorship on national TV. (I only saw a headline on the news this morning.) His take was that the goal was to make 'anything goes' the new normal. It seems like we live in a coarser time, at least in the public media. However, what I know about the past reminds me that coarse is not new and in many places and times it was much worse.

The discussion reminds me of the recurring theme of "the good old days." There is something about humans that makes us think that things are worse now than they have ever been. In previous times people worked harder, were more honest, were more kind and life was better. Except, that is not true. At least, not in many ways.

Part of the pining for the good old days is the belief that in the ancient past there was a golden age. This is a particularly potent temptation for Christians. We speak of the early church and our minds are filled with thoughts of large groups of believers, prayerful, gentle, kind, holy. We assume that they loved Jesus and loved each other. The other day (when i originally intended to write this blog) we read from Hebrews 2. The first verse was a reminder that the Golden Age was not all golden.

"Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it." There are many who think the letter to the Hebrews is not a letter, but a sermon. As one reads it, it is certainly possible that it is just that. In any case, the author clearly thinks that drifting away is a possibility. Apparently, we are not so unique today. His point is to remind his listeners to be more focused. He also recognizes that the great things he preaches have not all come to pass. Everything is not in subjection. But he hastens to add that we do see Jesus, Who suffered for a while, now with God in glory. The morning reading ended with this stunning statement:

It was fitting that God, for Whom and through Whom all things exist, in brining many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

I am not sure that it is clear why this is fitting. Sometimes I wish it was not simply declared but also explained. Yet, maybe in the end, words cannot capture what it all means. Ancient people living in the generation after Jesus were just as baffled by the mystery as we. They suffered and doubted just like us. They were courageous and faithful just like us. God is faithful. God is Good. God is mystery. No age had perfect people. No age was easy. We fight our battles for God in our times. This is when we live. Now is our time to act.