Someone at Northwest recently brought to the table something that they picked up at a recent conference. The speaker remarked that America is one of the last places where we continue to live under the delusion that this world is still a good place.
Whether or not we believe this impacts how we think about the world in which we live and the God who created it.
Ask people in Rwanda when they think the Great Tribulation will come.
Ask Christ-followers in China that same question.
Ask people in post-communist Russia if they think that all people are essentially good.
Ask young muslim kids in palestinian refugee camps if they think the "sun will come up tomorrow."
As I look around the world, I find that my perspective on God is influenced by this delusion. So when I talk about being a voice of hope in the world, am I speaking about real hope.
The Bible points people to an eternal hope...one beyond the circumstances of today or even tomorrow. It's not a hope that secretly roots for technology or politics to solve the problem, but finds its anchor in the words of Jesus who said that he is going to prepare a place for us. It's a hope that my heart can actually be transformed (actually needs transformation) because without it, there really isn't anything good in there...I know myself too well to believe otherwise.
It seems like in order to be a voice of hope, one must look honestly at that which provides none.
What do you think?
M@
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The media to which we avail ourselves and are consumers of shapes tremendously our perspective in how we respond to this question. For instance on NPR this morning the talk was of Pres. Bush's poll numbers being in the 40%, while Rush says he thinks they are much higher. It all depends on who you listen to, how they ask the questions.
Frankly, I'm an optomist, a believer that the Kingdom of God is invading what Satan thought was once his territory. I believe that given a historial perspective we can affirm that God has been saving and shaping society to be closer to the desires of his Kingdom. The fact that Northeast participated in the dance at a home for folks that are challenged is evidence of the advance of the kingdom. Three hundred years ago no home like that would have existed, the people wouldn't have been alive. While the Kingdom of God advances we should not be surprised that there is resistance, yet let us not loose faith and hope and love.
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