Reasons to Mope Reasons to Hope
In Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, Dante encounters the gates of Hell as he travels. Above the entrance he sees these words for those entering this tragic place: Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.
It is an apt description of the environment of Hell. Yet once we reach the gates of this place, we are pretty much already beyond hope. The decisions we’ve made, the life we’ve lived, the faith we’ve placed in something other than God, is in the past. The time for hope is during our lifetime as we anticipate what is to come. But in our modern culture, and true in much of history, we find many reasons to mope, rather than hope. Which will we choose? Let’s take a look at each.
Reasons to Mope
It can be discouraging to see the path churches in general appear to be on. Most of them are averaging only about 80% of their pre-COVID in-person attendance. And pre-COVID attendance wasn’t good. Did you know that for those who do attend, their average attendance is only 1.5 times per month? I recall my growing up years when people got attendance pins for not missing, and sometimes they went for years without missing one Sunday. Now making it a month without missing seems a challenge for many.
Many church pastors have become defensive, realizing that the corrupt culture we live in with its acceptance of ungodly behaviors can have them on the hot seat as people call themselves “Christian” but live by a worldly standard they loudly preach and protect. Preach the biblical standards of Jesus and his apostles, including repentance and Bible defined holiness, and you will be criticized, at the very least.
We get up each day and if we start with the news, whether CNN or Fox, it is depressing. We can exercise little control, but it paints the attitude of the day. We need to stay informed, for sure, to vote properly and provide our positive input, but should we allow culture to define our attitude and day? Aren’t there better ways to start each day, maybe with God’s Word! Which brings us to hope…
Reasons to Hope
We can criticize the younger generation a lot, the older generation almost always does, and there are things worthy of criticism, but there is also a hunger for spiritual things, a hunger to find meaning in life, an anchor to steady their ship. It’s been reported that attendance at Christ in Youth events as well as the International Conference on Missions has seen recent success in attracting youth. Rexanne and I saw it at ICOM last year, many young people not only singing and being taught, but doing service projects in the main conference hall. We see it at SHCC as Sam and Jon have been drawing in the kids.
The awakening that happened at Asbury University, the popularity of the Jesus Revolution movie, as well as The Chosen series, indicate a desire to move back to God in our culture. At SHCC we see new faces every week as people come to hear Kyle preach the Word and Ryan lead us in singing praises!
There can be more of both moping and hoping. Let’s find ourselves on the hope side. Jesus is The Way, we know that and can rest in it, even amid a troubled society. He provides meaning, direction, purpose, and eventually a heaven full of rewards for the faithful that lasts for eternity! Life can be tough, but it is temporary, and we have reason for hope in Jesus Christ!
Cross Point: “But as for me, I will always have hope!” Psalm 71:14
It is an apt description of the environment of Hell. Yet once we reach the gates of this place, we are pretty much already beyond hope. The decisions we’ve made, the life we’ve lived, the faith we’ve placed in something other than God, is in the past. The time for hope is during our lifetime as we anticipate what is to come. But in our modern culture, and true in much of history, we find many reasons to mope, rather than hope. Which will we choose? Let’s take a look at each.
Reasons to Mope
It can be discouraging to see the path churches in general appear to be on. Most of them are averaging only about 80% of their pre-COVID in-person attendance. And pre-COVID attendance wasn’t good. Did you know that for those who do attend, their average attendance is only 1.5 times per month? I recall my growing up years when people got attendance pins for not missing, and sometimes they went for years without missing one Sunday. Now making it a month without missing seems a challenge for many.
Many church pastors have become defensive, realizing that the corrupt culture we live in with its acceptance of ungodly behaviors can have them on the hot seat as people call themselves “Christian” but live by a worldly standard they loudly preach and protect. Preach the biblical standards of Jesus and his apostles, including repentance and Bible defined holiness, and you will be criticized, at the very least.
We get up each day and if we start with the news, whether CNN or Fox, it is depressing. We can exercise little control, but it paints the attitude of the day. We need to stay informed, for sure, to vote properly and provide our positive input, but should we allow culture to define our attitude and day? Aren’t there better ways to start each day, maybe with God’s Word! Which brings us to hope…
Reasons to Hope
We can criticize the younger generation a lot, the older generation almost always does, and there are things worthy of criticism, but there is also a hunger for spiritual things, a hunger to find meaning in life, an anchor to steady their ship. It’s been reported that attendance at Christ in Youth events as well as the International Conference on Missions has seen recent success in attracting youth. Rexanne and I saw it at ICOM last year, many young people not only singing and being taught, but doing service projects in the main conference hall. We see it at SHCC as Sam and Jon have been drawing in the kids.
The awakening that happened at Asbury University, the popularity of the Jesus Revolution movie, as well as The Chosen series, indicate a desire to move back to God in our culture. At SHCC we see new faces every week as people come to hear Kyle preach the Word and Ryan lead us in singing praises!
There can be more of both moping and hoping. Let’s find ourselves on the hope side. Jesus is The Way, we know that and can rest in it, even amid a troubled society. He provides meaning, direction, purpose, and eventually a heaven full of rewards for the faithful that lasts for eternity! Life can be tough, but it is temporary, and we have reason for hope in Jesus Christ!
Cross Point: “But as for me, I will always have hope!” Psalm 71:14
Posted in Cross Points