Richard Hollerman

Years ago, I recall moving to the city of my present residence and there was a YMCA in town and another one called the YWCA. I knew nothing about them but the names. (Perhaps I went inside once.) But this did not continue.

“Evolution,” as we know, is a negative term for (from a Christian standpoint) it stands for a wide variety of evil and sinister beliefs and practices. (See Merriam-Webster’s College Dictionary.) But here we are referring to a change that goes from a positive to a negative. By this, we do not mean that the early history of the YMCA is free from blame but it surely would be better than today. We always knew that this organization (from a Christian standpoint) was evil and lacked much but this is what we’ve learned in our research.

This organization began on June 5, 1844 by George Williams in London, England (it was begun at this time with Williams along with 11 friends). Of course, we know that it did had a name entitled, “Young Men’s Christian Association.”  It was known as a promoter of what has been called “Muscular Christianity.” They sought to promote a healthy “body, mind, and spirit.” The organization was for youth who were drawn to the cities because of the “Industrial Revolution.” Before this time, we had many means of entertainment that would have been evil, including taverns and brothels (drinking places and bordellos).

It was considered a “parachurch organization” based on “Protestant values.” Thus, it sought to have a positive influence on youth. Much has happened in the past century or two. What began in England with a positive influence on young people, then young girls, has become evil. They dropped the name of “Christian” and now would be more of a self-help organization, a philanthropic organization, or a “positive” influence on people, I even knew an older adult male (now dead) who attended regularly for exercise!

Although we may have had questions about the beginning in 1844, it is now a secular organization but continues with lofty purposes. I said that there were two organizations in town (after the beginnings years ago), but now I think that one or both of these institutions are gone. Perhaps one is still in town, moved to another location that offers swimming. (We doubt that Jesus would approve of young people taking their clothes off even for exercise!)

In the past, true Christians would not disrobe. They would not strip down and show their bodies. They would not engage in worldly entertainment. And, of course, they would wear nothing that had a manifestation of worldliness. They would not partake of the YMCA or YWCA, for they were considered worldly organizations (And rightly so.) Things have changed.

Although this organization is changed and is no longer the leading attraction that it once was, and young people seem to have lost an interest in this sort of thing (was it because of TV, movies, the computer, or another attraction?), we do find that this organization is still found in various cities in America and elsewhere. It may have changed and moved and is now worldly in many ways, still it is there and perhaps some of our readers have heard of it and partaken in it!

May God help us and grant us the discernment to see truth and error and claim the right and reject the wrong. And this would be true of the “Y” and other like retractions.