My granddaughter, Rylie Grace Kerstetter, is graduating from high school in a couple of weeks. It’s raised a bit of nostalgia in me.
WARNING!
Old guy thoughts about to be shared!
My graduation from the New
Brighton, Pennsylvania High School, took place fifty-six years ago! Wow! Unbelievable!
In 1969, the culture was much more unified in respect of religion. All graduates – at that time – looked forward to two opportunities to wear that cap and gown: first: Baccalaureate, and second: Commencement.
Both were open to the public. Both services featured the graduates entering – usually in alphabetical order – in those wonderful caps and gowns! It was a dual celebration of our accomplishments.
Baccalaureate was a formal service largely planned by the local ministerial association. It often involved music by the choral and musical departments. School officials attended, but did not play a role in this service.
Various local pastors led the service with one designated to bring the message. Not all students participated, but most did. In New Brighton, the local Roman Catholic priest participated – which allowed for a whole community response!
But I must tell you that this service quickly fell by the wayside in the cultural and social changes initiated by the ‘turbulent sixties’.
My official role as a pastor began in 1976, when I was ordained. During those early years, I helped plan Baccalaureate services and participated in them. But, as the years passed, more and more students began skipping this recognition of their accomplishments by the local ministerial group.
During my time of service in New Middletown, Ohio, [2003-2012] the Baccalaureate service was dying a rapid death. I recall one of the latter years when only one graduate participated.
I don’t know of anywhere that even has Baccalaureate services anymore.
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I don’t mourn the loss of Baccalaureate services, however, I do mourn the loss of spiritual emphasis and unity. Many have observed the lack of respect for religious institutions and the growing cultural irrelevance of the Bible and its teachings.
Public ignorance of the content of the Bible has magnified by a power of ten over recent decades.
From 1997 through 2003, I served on the staff of a fast-growing church in Akron, Ohio. The Lead Pastor – Brenda Young – had catalyzed growth in this congregation, and invited me to join the team. She was an amazing teacher/preacher whose messages were relevant and filled with help and hope! She rarely was out of the pulpit, however, when she was, it became my role to give the message.
The first time she turned it over to me she gave me a very pointed reminder:
“Hal,
At
Cornerstone, you can’t make a reference to a Bible story and expect people to
know it.
If you
mention Jonah, then you’ve got to tell his story!
You can’t
assume that people will know the stories that you know so well!”
This was a wake-up call to me regarding the enormous change that our culture had already experienced!
And guess what, folks?
That conversation took place twenty-seven years ago! Of course you know that it certainly hasn’t gotten better. If anything, biblical knowledge has significantly diminished!
Our current culture is less respectful of clergy and ecclesiastical bodies than ever before. They consider Christianity to be much ado about nothing! Christianity now maintains its strength behind its walls with very little vital impact on the culture.
But we can change this, right?
By being fully devoted followers of Jesus and letting our light shine brightly everywhere and all-the-time! Are you in?
[If you have three minutes, pray along with John Rich by clicking this link:
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