I came of age
during the tumultuous sixties. The Vietnam War began in the middle of that
decade. Prior to this, America was immersed in a promising rise in economic
power. The middle class’s growth was the engine that powered the American
economy after decades of depression and wartime economies.
Along the way,
America seemed to lose its soul. Social protests marked the latter end of the
sixties and became a cultural undercurrent against racial injustice,
materialism, and a war far from home. This undercurrent created a spiritual
vacuum, and nature abhors a vacuum. It was quickly filled with a myriad of
philosophies, religious movements, and lifestyles. The range was staggering—eastern
religions and philosophies, a resurgence in witchcraft, experimentation with
illicit drugs, communes, and along came the Jesus Movement that challenged the
traditions and status quo of Christianity.
This cultural
shift wasn’t restricted to the US, but found its way throughout the world. The
Beatles mystical involvement with Transcendental Meditation and drugs led them to
India for an audience with an Indian yogi. Their songs reflected this personal
and famous cultural shift, while visiting the infamous Haight-Ashbury district
of San Francisco.[i] Prior to
this, songwriters like Bob Dylan and other folk singers challenged America’s
status quo on issues of social conscience, and Time magazine announced the
spiritual vacuum with their cover declaring—God is dead. Inside this issue
noted theologians touted the loss of America’s spiritual soul. These were some
of the prophets of that decade.
In the midst of
all the protests came a breath of fresh air spiritually. Waves of young people
dropped out of the middle-class march and pursued all that reared its head at
the time—including meditation, drug use, and free love. Out of this move away
from middle-class America, many turned to God and joined the Jesus Generation that
launched what became the Jesus Movement.[ii]
Although more well
known and popular on the west coast, it took place across the nation, and
spilled over to the next decade and into other nations. The Olympics of 1972
(in Munich) were tragically marred by a terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic
team. But God’s counter was to send a ministry called YWAM (Youth With A
Mission), which sent well over a thousand young people into the midst of
millions from all over the world, and shared the love and hope of Jesus.[iii]
A primary
influence of this movement was an interest in the return of Jesus Christ—the Second Coming—when God returns to bring
those who love Him to heaven, and also brings a final, apocalyptic judgment
upon the earth. It paralleled fears about over-population, famine and
environmental ruin. Once again, God brought an answer to the world’s
self-destructive spiral into despair—hope in His Son’s return to save the world
from itself.
Are you ready for the Lord's return to earth? If so, how are you using your time and living that shows your readiness? If not, what hinders you from opening your heart to God?
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:1-3)This is another excerpt from my soon-to-be-published book. Thanks for reading!
[i]
The Haight-Ashbury district became a famous staging ground for the hippie
movement, especially known for love-ins
and hallucinogenic drug use.
[ii]
The Jesus Generation was a name given to the (primarily) young people in the
Jesus Movement, as noted in the first endnote of Chapter 1.
[iii]
See the endnote
#1 for Chapter 1 for background on Jesus Movement and endnote #5 for Chapter 3
for “end times.” For background on YWAM see this link– http://www.ywam.org/About-YWAM/Who-we-are/The-History-of-YWAM
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