The Age of Suspicion

There are many titles that historians of the future may give our era, but one that they are certain to consider is "The Age of Suspicion." People are suspicious of political authorities because they have lied so often. People are suspicious of economic authorities because financial markets have collapsed. People are suspicious of religious authorities because they have failed to act swiftly against abuse in the church. People are suspicious of scientific authorities because the products resulting from their discoveries have in many cases devastated the environment.

Preachers feel the loss of authority. I recall a group of older pastors who began their ministries shortly after World War II. Their first congregations granted them significant authority from the day they arrived. But beginning with the mid-1960s, each time they moved to a new pastorate, congregations granted them less initial authority than earlier in their careers. They had to earn authority by proving trustworthy over time.