Let's Make a Pact to Believe in Each Other

I often find myself battling a tendency to turn negative about our world. I bet I’m not alone in that, given the state of things. But fortunately, I know God doesn’t welcome such self indulgence. To “turn negative” is just another way of admitting a loss of faith. If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that God intends us to find joy in this world. And if it’s God’s will that we enjoy life, then I have to believe God will provide a way.

One hopeful sign: a generous understanding of our faith is spreading to corners of Christianity where it was once scarce. I’ve always put my eggs in the church’s basket and believe that if the church isn’t preaching a gospel of positive possibilities, no one will. It’s exciting to picture a world where the joyful voice of God‘s spirit can be heard far and wide.

Cynics might call it a blogger’s fantasy to imagine a world where war is no more and people no longer suffer from a scarcity of food, shelter or medical attention – a world where individuals and the culture can “be all that they can be.” If you don’t believe it’s possible, check the state of your faith; I’m confident this is the kind of world God imagined at the creation.

Getting back to hopeful signs, if you’ve been in enough churches for enough years you’ve heard the Christian message interpreted in many ways. I spent Easter in a Lutheran Church (one of the conservative “synods”) and was overjoyed to hear Christ’s mission interpreted as a mission of inclusion: the poor and shunned, women, even pagans were the among the first to be welcomed into Jesus’ presence.

For many years religion has been more a roadblock than a highway on the march to a more perfect world. Going back to Old Testament times, humankind was viewed as fallen and inherently wicked; God was seen as a vengeful being, and sickness and poverty were signs of disobedience. The book of Job was written to dispel these myths but people went on believing it right up to modern times.

In this punitive world view Jesus’ mission is reduced to his redemptive act on the cross, and all his teaching on love, peace, spirituality, wealth and resistance to injustice are brushed aside as nice platitudes rather than a guide to restoring paradise. Being Christian is about the reward of the next world; this world is simply to be suffered as best we can.

In my view, that’s a quitter’s theology that undermines faith in God and God’s creation. My prayer is that God will stop me in my tracks any time I turn negative about the possibilities for this world. So here’s my offer to all God’s children: I’ll believe that God made you for goodness and ask you to believe the same of me.