A Shout Out to America!

Back in the early and mid 1970s it was fashionable within the Christian circles I called home to color our world in dark and depressive colors. The theology that most of us uncritically embraced played an important role in shaping our view of the world. 

We believed that the end of time was so near we could smell its breath. 

We read the Scriptures in ways that supported our view of a world spinning out of apocalyptic control, a world on a cataclysmic trajectory towards fiery extinction or nuclear holocaust. The most popular topic in our church was the one that drew the largest crowds on Sunday: “The End Times.” 

One could count on a full house when the pastor announced he was preaching on the Second Coming or the Great tribulation or the Thousand Year reign of Christ! The energy in the sanctuary leading up to the sermon was electric.

We listened to those dark and predictive sermons as we awaited the anticipated sermonic punch line: “Jesus is coming soon!” 

Which in the language of the time meant that we Christians were going to be rescued from earth and thus leave a world headed towards global disaster. 

“Praise the Lord” was our mantra, “Jesus is coming soon!” 

Ironically we believed that the world had to get worse because the worse it got the sooner Jesus would come again. In some sick way we prayed for the world to become a dark and depressive place so that the Biblical prophecies we so passionately believed in would be fulfilled sooner rather than later. 

Looking back on it all now I realize that our view of this dark and depressive world was as sick as the theology that helped shaped it. It took many years for my theology to get reprogrammed in accordance with the joyful and hopeful message of the Gospel, which means by the way, “Good News!” 

There’s nothing dark and depressive about this Good News. But that’s another story for another time I suppose.

Why are people so naturally attracted to dark and depressive narratives? What is it about negativism that attracts so many people, whether it’s in the political or religious arenas of life? What is it about negative storylines that energize people into action—action that often leads to violence?

I was reflecting on all thus during my walk this morning and having just read an opinion piece in the Washington Post entitled, “Don’t let the naysayers fool you: This is the best period in recent U.S. history,” by Gerald S. Rose. (October 26, 2016).

Given the negative atmosphere of this current presidential election and most of the opinion pieces written for our nation’s newspapers, Rose’s article was a breath of fresh air. Rose begins his opinion piece by stating: “A significant segment of Americans see this nation in decline, if not free fall. Never has the United States been in such bad shape, they say, and it is getting worse.” I must say that these words have a familiar apocalyptic ring to them.

But then Rose asserts: “Nothing could be further from the truth.” 

Of course Rose acknowledges that our nation is not totally free from many nagging social problems, such as racism. America is not perfect but what nation is? Yet Rose’s insightfulness is impressive. He claims: “The world is going through a revolution similar to the Industrial Revolution.” Yes it is and the tensions caused by this revolution are too easily expressed or perceived in negatively dark ways.

The oft-repeated mantra of so many naysayers is: “Let’s get back to the way it once was.” 

I prefer a brighter and more hopeful outlook for our nation and our world. Theologically speaking I have now embraced a theology of hope that lifts my spirits out of the doom and gloom of all the naysayers. Yes we have issues and we have problems. But as a nation we have the potential to collectively transcend all that is perceived as dark and depressive in this country.

I am hopeful because I have embraced the Good News that is the centerpiece of my religious faith and my worldview. My theology will not allow me to paint my world in dark and depressive colors and predict cataclysmic outcomes that run counter to the Good News that has shaped most of my adult life.

I refuse to embrace any dark and depressive narrative but instead embrace the hopeful Good News of my faith.

I choose to see the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty. Yes we have problems in America but none so grave that our immanent demise is just around the corner. We can and we must rally together in the days ahead to continue building one of the greatest nations on earth, if not for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren and their children.

So here’s my shout out to America:

“Let’s be hopeful!”

It’s a better option for the future.