October 20, 2008
Why I am Hopeful
The economic crisis won't be easy for us—and that's good.
Has the economy got you worried? When pundits are throwing around statements like, "The worst market since the Great Depression," it's natural to get concerned. But Andy Crouch has a different take. He's written a really insightful article for our friends at Books and Culture titled "Why I am Hopeful." Here's an excerpt:
I am not hopeful because I envision an easy way out of the current economic mess. We are entering into the Great Deleveraging, where an entire country of consumers will have to pare back their reliance on cheap mortgages and abundant credit cards. (Remember when your mailbox was stuffed with credit card offers? Seen any lately?) The national savings rate might even rise above 0% - yes, that is zero percent, the proportion Americans have been collectively saving for several years now. But that means that consumption, a major engine of our economy, will have to decline dramatically.
I am not hopeful because I have confidence in whoever will be elected president in 15 days. I have grave concerns, as a Christian and as a citizen, about both candidates and will in all likelihood vote for neither. (Not for the first time - in 2004 I wrote in Colin Powell.)
I am not hopeful because I think we are well prepared for what is ahead of us. We are not. We are a terrifyingly unserious people, our heads buzzing with trivia and noise. This is more true, if anything, of American Christians than the rest of our country. The stark contrast between what I experience among Christians anywhere else in the world - and not just the "Third World," because Canada and Germany and Britain and Singapore come to mind as quickly as Uganda and India - and American Christians is astonishing. We are preoccupied with fads intellectual, theological, technological, and sartorial. Vanishingly few of us have any serious discipline of silence, solitude, study, and fasting. We have, in the short run, very little to offer our culture, because we live in the short run.
I am not hopeful because I think life is going to get easier in America. I am hopeful because I think it is going to get harder, and in a very good way. And I am hopeful because I think this means my children and grandchildren will live in a deeply and truly better world than I would have thought possible a few years ago.
Read Crouch's entire article here.
Posted by UrL Scaramanga on October 20, 2008
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1606
Comments
This is the best quote for me from this article, "If we are not dualists, we will see that what is true for souls is true for societies as well—because both souls and societies are subjects of God's creative intent. No society can build itself on ease. Most everything that is good about our society was forged by people who took discipline and work seriously, who built their lives around risk and enjoyed their leisure precisely because it was the fruit of discipline, the Sabbath after a week of concerted work."
The one thing I might add is that trying times and loss of ease will turn many back to biblical truth. When the future is terrifyingly uncertain it is wonderful to know that "we have an anchor that keeps the soul grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love".
Posted by: Melody at October 20, 2008
The biggest problem is that Evangelical Christianity has "sold" itself for too long as a vehicle for upward social mobility. Although prosperity teaching is the most visible manifestation of that, it goes back much longer.
To make progress in a society where upward social mobility is elusive, it will take a serious volte-face on the part of most Evangelical ministers. Are they prepared for this? If they are, I am unaware of it.
Posted by: Don Warrington at October 20, 2008
that was an excellent piece, andy. one characteristic that seems attached to all men is the absolute refusal to do what needs to be done until it has to be done. even salvation is like that - we don't turn to God until we reach the end of the rope - the rope we've been using to hang ourselves. it was edison who taught us that the lessons for success come through failure. it echoes hebrews 12 that says God disciplines those He loves.
and so turning our focus to the church for a moment, here's a problem: a young man grows up in a Christian home, is taught right and wrong by bible-believing parents, lives a solid Christ-honoring life, answers a call to the ministry, and begins pastoring a church with a clean resume. is this the pastor that church boards should be looking for?
it's the refiner's fire that purifies and rids us of our impurities. america will now have to pass through the flames; and - to echo andy - i am hopeful it will emerge a stronger nation.
Posted by: mike rucker at October 20, 2008
I fail to see the author's reasons for hope. I am not despaired. But my hope is in the fact that God reigns, regardless of the circumstances. It is dangerous to develop our perception of God based on our experience or environment. There is no guarantee that American will recover like it did several decades ago. The only way America will recover is if it turns to God. Turning to our own resolve to overcome, to the merits of freedom and capitalism, or to the many civil servants who are intellectual and smart will not improve our condition. I do not see where the author turns to God as the only way for any country or civilization to last and succeed.
Posted by: Joe at October 21, 2008
I am hopeful in the Lord alone. And he does not promise us a better world before his return.
Posted by: RDM at October 22, 2008
The young man who has been brought up in a Christian home and fed the word of God daily looks a lot like the biblical Timothy and very much suited to being a church leader. I would test them out for a time in various simple jobs to see how they carry them out (are they completed, what is the man's attitude (willing) (or unwilling, complaining). May all who come behind US find us faithful. I believe you should not push young men into PASTOR positions too soon. A Pastor is only one of the 5-fold ministry positions. He may function better as an evangelist or teacher, rather than as a pastor. What if he has a prophetic call on his life? Will he be happy listening to all the needs of the sheep? No. He'll be frustrated in his calling. This young man needs to listen carefully to the calling of God on his life, and discuss with men of other callings what they see in him. It will be obvious to this young man whether he has a pastor's heart. The pastor does not do everything anyway in the church. He will be (and should be) only part of the eldership team your church already has in place. The Bible is all about TEAM work in the area of leadership - apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists. You know the scripture.
Posted by: thinkingal at October 25, 2008