Religion was OK in 1957
I’m from the Baby Boomer generation. When I was growing up, displaying one’s religious preference was acceptable. All but one or two of the neighbors attended church on Sunday. As late as 1968, we were still praying at school functions (opening a football game) and had a class on the Bible every Tuesday (parents could excuse their children from the class). No one protested any of these behaviors.
1962 Prayer in School Ruling
After the Supreme Court ruled against school-initiated prayer in schools in 1962, many schools prohibited all forms of religious observance. As so often happens, the pendulum swings to the opposite extreme in change. The impact of the Supreme Court ruling had an unintended (though perhaps intended by Satan?) effect, in that it relaxed some of the moral code in society as well.
Before the 1960s and 1970s, religious beliefs played a significant role as a deterrent to divorce. Shame, guilt, and concern about the impact on their reputation made couples hesitate to be the first in a community to divorce. With the change in attitude toward school prayer and the greater acceptance of divorce after World War II, divorce rates skyrocketed in the 1980s.
Satan’s plan to undermine God’s church by destroying family unity and influencing the content introduced into the minds of the young was underway.
Bet you are Wondering What This Has to do with Compassion Ministry? Two things.
- Did you know that the divorce rate in America is currently at an all-time low (as of 2025) – only 42% Sounds good, right? Not really. It’s down because people are staying single longer, opting to live together instead of getting married. The impact of cohabitation means that households consist of two single adults, who co-parent children without formal legal connections. Therefore, neither has future legal responsibilities. (As per divorce details from Anna K Law.)
Therefore, in times of crisis or illness, the household has no additional family resources for support. The “male co-parent” is under no legal obligation to assist the child’s mother unless named on the birth certificate as the father or DNA testing proves parenthood. No alimony is required if the mother needs to stay home with the child. Unless their names are jointly on the lease, the one whose name is not on the lease can simply leave, including leaving the debt.
- From Generation X (the 1950s) moving forward until now, those identifying as needing religion in their lives are steadily declining. Instead, they are seeking spiritual fulfillment and self-enlightenment. They desire to know their higher power through meditation, mindfulness, and yoga. While each of these practices may provide temporary relief from anxiety and tension, these practices fail to deliver salvation or forgiveness of sin. Therefore, they are destined for an eternity in hell if they think they find their spiritual higher power and it’s not Jesus. I spoke to one person who was considering a religion that evolved until he became one with the stars. I asked what he got out of that. He didn’t have an answer.
What Would Bring People Back to Jesus?
If you read “Why is Attendance Declining in Some Churches?” I explain several reasons why young people are no longer interested in religion, based on a survey presented by ChurchTrac. I won’t list them since you can read the article yourself, but one struck home as a possible way to win people back. It has to do with being authentic.
I’m not sure if people still use the phrase “Walk the Talk.” It captures what I want to explain very well. I used to help with a drug rehab unit occasionally. During group, we used to talk about people being straight with each other. The group hated it when a speaker tried to sell them a bunch of nonsense while acting like it was the real thing. Someone coming off drugs feels awful. If they were going to try to sit still and listen to someone, they didn’t want to waste time talking to anyone who wasn’t real (authentic), like a doctor telling a patient to stop smoking with cigarette smoke on their breath. If they were going to listen to someone, they had to walk their talk.
Compassion Ministry Represents the Same Premise – The Church Walking Its Talk
One of the reasons Gen Z and others don’t trust the church relates to past scandals and the fact that they don’t see the church helping people they know personally who are in need. In other words, they don’t see the church “walking its talk.” Many churches donate large sums of money to missions far away. At the same time, members of their congregations cannot attend a doctor’s appointment because they either lack access to transportation or can’t afford the self-pay cost. Other examples: They don’t understand how the church allows a deacon or elder (fictitious example) to beat his wife and remain in a leadership role, or why no one visits the poor widow who is all alone and can’t get to the grocery store. Hence, she becomes so weak from lack of food that she falls down the stairs and breaks a hip.
These examples are not real, but could happen because most churches do not have programs in place to check on members who live alone, are sick, or face other challenges. The way most churches care for those in need is to allocate funds to various ministries and worthy causes and perhaps set aside a certain amount in a benevolent fund. By doing so, we believe we have fulfilled our obligation to care for the sick, orphans, and the needy. But Jesus doesn’t want our money as much as He wants our hearts. He wants us to show His love to people face-to-face, heart to heart.
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Many of these people who are alone and hurting feel like no one cares, that the church, i.e., Jesus, isn’t real. They may even have cried out to Him and are waiting for someone to be Him by showing them that He heard their cry.
I believe when you show people God in action, they meet Jesus through you. People who are hurting need God. They are most vulnerable and open to receiving His love when at their lowest. Love given unconditionally is how God loves His children. They see Jesus in you, and you preach the gospel through your actions, not only to them but to everyone who knows about how you helped the person in need.
Last Chance for Salvation
Compassion Ministry is especially vital for families whose loved ones are in hospice or have chronic illnesses that may lead to their death. It could be their last opportunity to hear about salvation before they die and their only hope to escape an eternity in hell. Think about the impact you could have from that perspective. This ministry could be the most critical service your church provides.
I hope you will be interested in establishing a Compassion Ministry in your church. Read through the material provided on starting a ministry. If you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at dsteiglederH2H@gmail.com.
