Christian

From Normal to Unrecognizable: A Personal Reflection

Cindy Dawson

A pastor asked a church member what he thought the biggest problem in the church at large was: ignorance or apathy? The man replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” 😬

From the book Until He Comes, by Amir Tsarfati & Barry Stagner

The world today isn’t normal. That is if, like me, you grew up in America in the 1950s and 1960s. Please just indulge me for a moment as I give you a glimpse into my childhood.

I grew up in New Jersey and attended public school. Every morning, we started the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer.

In elementary school, every Wednesday (during school hours) we all went to church for Bible study. We walked in a line to the church of our choice. Some to the Baptist church, some to the Methodist church, and some to the Catholic church. (No one thought this was odd. It was just what we did.)

At lunch, we either went home to eat or (if you were lucky and had money) you could go to The Luncheonette. They made delicious hamburgers, which we often flattened with our plate. (I don’t know why.) The Luncheonette was packed with boisterous elementary students laughing and talking loudly. Can you imagine?

For all 12 grades, we walked to and from school every day. (We didn’t have school buses.) We thought this was fun because it gave us the chance to be with our friends.

Now there’s something I must confess. I wasn’t a perfect child. It’s true. In fact, in 7th grade, I got after-school detention for shooting a rubber band across the room! (I was mortified!)

Girls were not allowed to wear pants, and boys were not allowed to wear jeans. (Yes, Public School!)

Abortion was illegal. No one had even heard of transgender ideology, using the correct pronouns, or LBGTQ. Men could not marry men, and women could not marry women.

The average score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) peaked in 1963–1964. Today, 12th-grade reading and math scores are at historic lows.

The U.S. has changed drastically in my lifetime! It is quite shocking to have watched this with my own eyes! So, what does it mean? Why does it matter?

It matters because something of epic proportions is happening in our world. The Bible warns us about what will happen in the last days. Jesus told the Pharisees,

“You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:3b

So, yes, it is necessary to interpret the signs of the times. We do that by carefully studying the Bible, not by reading books written by those who rely on their own opinions, what they claim “God told them”, and false teaching. Discernment is vitally important.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,  but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:3-8

The difference between what was normal then and what is normal now is striking. Is God warning the church to wake up? You decide.

“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

17 thoughts on “From Normal to Unrecognizable: A Personal Reflection”

  1. It’s so easy to adjust to all the insanity and be lulled to sleep. I really appreciate how you urge us to be wise and discerning about these times and all these issues we face. Thank you, Cindy. Blessings!

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  2. I recognise your school years Cindy; my primary school days in the early 70s Scotland wasn’t much different. We still had prayers and school assembly led by the local Church of Scotland minister…and it was from the Bible. You would be hard pushed to find a CofSc where the Bible is preached today. I am sure that God is calling people back to Him before His Son returns; in recent months we have seen a growth in interest from the younger generations in God and His Word. I just read recently that last year saw a huge rise in Bible sales in both the USA and the UK. We pray that His Seed sprouts in the hearts of the folk searching for hope in Him.
    God bless you today sister 🙏

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    1. Alan, It is so encouraging that young people are more interested in the things of God and that Bible sales are up. May they find churches that “rightly divide the Word of Truth”. May these youth be discipled by truth-loving, discerning Christians. Blessings, Brother! 🙏

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      1. You’ve made me very nostalgic, Cindy. 🙂 I pray that this new surge in Biblical interest snowballs and brings the youth to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and inspires them to share in the joy of their new found faith. 🙂

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  5. Dear Cindy, thank you for sharing memories that are so precious to think of in these times. In 86 years I have been overwhelmed to see in the world and in my own family things I never could have imagined. Three of my five granddaughters who grew up in the church graduated university as lesbians. There is no safe place here from the enemy except in Christ — Christ in us, and us in Christ — and all this in light of the eternal glory to which we are called. The world will continue to spiral in corruption but we are being woven into His image from glory to glory. Though we can trust in present times, we can be grateful for the past and for the future. I never imaged I would say this before now, especially with the threat of AI, but I am proclaiming 2026 as an awesome year of our Lord — hoping to soon write more about this. His authority and power are over all, so I praise Him for His plans. It will get worse before better, but our praise, prayer, and proclamation of His good news of eternal life in Christ will be His means to draw His people to Himself during the upheaval. He will reveal His authority, power, and plan to us as we put our complete trust in Him. For a time He may want you to be where you are for a witness to others who need the power of His Word and truth. I praise Him for you and your witness, and I pray His Holy Spirit to fill and work through you for His glory and joy. The church is His chosen place and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” It is our safe place here and for eternity. Love and blessings, dear Sister-in-Christ.

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    1. Thank you for this encouraging message. When we see that someone we love has been deceived, it breaks our heart. Deception is all around us and Jesus warned us this would happen. And still, there are very few who will acknowledge this fact. How easily the enemy has been able to spread his lies.
      The church is His chosen place and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Yes and Amen! God bless you in all you do!

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  6. Thank you Cindy for these post. Loved the walk back into your school days, they reminded me of those days as well.

    Thank you for relating Scriptures and the end times. I really cherish and love your walk before the Lord and pray nothing every changes that. Blessing Beloved of the Lord.

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