If you have hope in Jesus... looking at the state of the world, even in your article - nearly half of Americans are in line with Christian nationalism, where is your hope? In a future kingdom come on earth not yet arrived? Can God do more right now to help minorities, those suffering? Why is He not? Asking for myself, a friend, those in the struggle, and just want to hear thoughts from other brothers in Christ.
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, those are valid and also huge questions, so I'll say a few quick things. First, our episode coming out this Friday with Lisa Sharon Harper touches on your questions. I'd say for me, my hope definitely (thankfully) does not lie in what my fellow Americans believe about the world or how countries treat their marginalized citizens. If it did, I'd be extremely depressed. Broadly though, if I look at American history, I think we've always had a strong authoritarian streak that was actually much, much worse in the past. I'm not saying the progress we've had is permanent or irreversible, and we have a long way to go. But the mere fact that today's situation is unquestionably bad does not mean I don't have hope. I also don't think that having hope in Jesus means America's authoritarianism will get any better or worse. They just aren't connected in my mind because God never promised that any given superpower would do anything other than behave how the various Babylons throughout history have always behaved. Why he doesn't then come down immediately and fix all the problems is a topic big enough it probably exceeds what I can write here.
Looking forward to the podcast. I can't help but think that since Christianity is an embodied faith I am expecting and hoping for more material gains. You'll suggest all the time that we can't just talk about Christian things we must be and do Christian things. I'm not saying everything should be solved but are we not to expect more fruitfulness after 2000 years?
I think we are supposed to expect fruitfulness in the people who follow the relatively narrow way of Jesus, but not from superpowers, or even necessarily nations of any size. We can and often do make societies better or worse, but I don't think that the state of the beliefs of the average American churchgoer in America in 2024 is the measuring stick for the fruitfulness of the global church. does that make sense? I share your frustration and desire for change; I just don't think that positive change in this specific place at this specific time with these specific people who call themselves Christians is what God promises.
Thanks for this article, very informative.
If you have hope in Jesus... looking at the state of the world, even in your article - nearly half of Americans are in line with Christian nationalism, where is your hope? In a future kingdom come on earth not yet arrived? Can God do more right now to help minorities, those suffering? Why is He not? Asking for myself, a friend, those in the struggle, and just want to hear thoughts from other brothers in Christ.
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, those are valid and also huge questions, so I'll say a few quick things. First, our episode coming out this Friday with Lisa Sharon Harper touches on your questions. I'd say for me, my hope definitely (thankfully) does not lie in what my fellow Americans believe about the world or how countries treat their marginalized citizens. If it did, I'd be extremely depressed. Broadly though, if I look at American history, I think we've always had a strong authoritarian streak that was actually much, much worse in the past. I'm not saying the progress we've had is permanent or irreversible, and we have a long way to go. But the mere fact that today's situation is unquestionably bad does not mean I don't have hope. I also don't think that having hope in Jesus means America's authoritarianism will get any better or worse. They just aren't connected in my mind because God never promised that any given superpower would do anything other than behave how the various Babylons throughout history have always behaved. Why he doesn't then come down immediately and fix all the problems is a topic big enough it probably exceeds what I can write here.
Looking forward to the podcast. I can't help but think that since Christianity is an embodied faith I am expecting and hoping for more material gains. You'll suggest all the time that we can't just talk about Christian things we must be and do Christian things. I'm not saying everything should be solved but are we not to expect more fruitfulness after 2000 years?
I think we are supposed to expect fruitfulness in the people who follow the relatively narrow way of Jesus, but not from superpowers, or even necessarily nations of any size. We can and often do make societies better or worse, but I don't think that the state of the beliefs of the average American churchgoer in America in 2024 is the measuring stick for the fruitfulness of the global church. does that make sense? I share your frustration and desire for change; I just don't think that positive change in this specific place at this specific time with these specific people who call themselves Christians is what God promises.