Strength for a Different Age

By Philip D. Holley

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     Only in the past few centuries have students of psychology discovered and proven the fact that much of man's existence at a given moment is deeply rooted in his past. Through the processes of our mental faculties, past emotions, beliefs, thoughts, and experiences are stored, either for future recollection, for the subconscious, or to be forgotten. For many elderly people, the past is their total existence. This however, is not beneficial; for if there is no meaning in the present and future existence, there is no reason for being. We would assume, that although in proportion to the total population, more adults and elderly people are affected in the above described way, this problem is not confined to that group ex-

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clusively. Many of those who are middle age and younger, are to some extent, living in the past.

     It is our thesis that inability to cope with social change results in fear and anxiety. The psychological make-up of those who have only superficial security does not allow them to adjust to the rapid advances of social, political, industrial, and technological change. When threatened by change, many are prone to either resent, reject, or disregard advances and innovations, or attempt to prevent their being affected. As one increases in age, he depends more upon habit, uniformity, and homogeneity of mind and activity. Basic personality, moral and ethical values are structured at a very early age. Intellectual development, for the majority, begins to decline soon after leaving high school or college. Thus is evolved the desire to have an ordered life, free from obstacles or conflict.

     For those whose lives are patterned and structured, conflicts and threats arise if societal change affects them too closely. These threats can come, in our particular area of concern, in the form of opposition to presently held religious or moral values. Those highly ethnocentric tend to be especially threatened by those with whom they are affiliated, if radical change is advocated. True objectivity is not one of their outstanding characteristics, though they are sincere.

     Christians living today are part of a different age. We are now in the Sixties, soon to be the Seventies. This new age, instituted in the last twenty years, demands adjustment, new approaches, greater vision, advanced plans. Traditionalism cannot save us. We cannot depend upon the nineteenth century thoughts and values to meet the challenges of the twentieth century.

     Whether we like it or not, the Space Age is bringing to us radically different situations which all disciples must face. Though we have seen many advances in the past twenty years, there are indications that this rate is steadily increasing to enormous proportions. To meet these obstacles, we must rise to new heights of faith and knowledge. The past is not our only benefactor. We cannot depend solely upon past accomplishments and advances. We must never allow our minds to close in rejecting the truths that are being realized. As we are called to this task, we can resolve to rely upon the strength which we receive from Jesus, and with his aid, we will become free men, living humbly in our personal quest for truth and right in the "here and now."