Here's another of those posts that gets mostly finished but I never get around to posting:
"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me."
The thing about living in a Christian culture - and America is still and has always been a Christian culture - is that it colors the way we see the world, in ways we might not even realize. One need not believe in order to benefit from it. In fact, those who don't believe, or who think they don't believe, may be even more prone to not realize just how much of the good in the modern world is a direct result of Christianity, and of American Christianity in particular.
One of these influences is an understanding that things get better. God holds the American people in His hands, and He may shake things sometimes, or allow things to be shaken, but there's always a higher purpose and a better result.
Christians are optimists, there is no fatalism in our religion. Christians believe passionately in change, and that our faith in Jesus empowers change in the way our society works, by making changes in the way we as individuals approach life each day. This is what Christian Conservatism is - not becoming more "tolerant" but instead becoming knowledgeable and more optimistic!
The "American Optimism" is in fact a Christian Optimism: a view of life based on a security of being personally loved by and important to God, being intellectually and emotionally empowered by God, and having a specific mission to share that good news with every people in the world.
This overwhelming sense that all people are equal in God's sight, that it's our responsibility to help those we encounter who ask for our help, that things can and should be better for every person, and that we have the power to help make it so, has been achieved only in Christian cultures. But it wasn't achieved by government mandate - the impetus came from the pulpit and the Sunday School room: it came from The Bible, the Unchanging Word of God.
Christians know that things will get better, because that is God's promise to us again and again and unceasingly again in The Bible, that the things of the world shall pass away but the things of the spirit shall live - and shall live more abundantly.
God keeps His promises. He has fulfilled so many, He has glorified His name and He tells us that He will glorify it.
Be of good cheer. All is in God's hands. He may be calling us to GET UP and do the task our hands find to do, but He has promised beauty for ashes, plans to bring YOU hope, and a future.
So be of good cheer. Whatever Congress does or doesn't do, let it go for today. All shall be well. Let's enjoy the day today!
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A great way to get cheered up is at Bread upon the Waters, where Miss QR has posted one of the happiest songs there is: "I Saw the Light -- Sunday Skiffle with Brother Sonny". Go have a listen! And if you like what you hear, check out her other Sunday posts for more great music.
Thank you, Tina. This post is a great reminder, and one that comes to me on a day that I needed it.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the link. So many Christians in the world offer prayers through beautiful music, it is a wonder to behold.
You are most welcome, and thank you for stopping by. Encouragement is always such a blessing, and I appreciate it! Although I wrote this post some time ago, recently messages on the importance of confidence and trust in God have been showing up a lot.
ReplyDeleteDavid Wilkerson Today had a message last month that really hit home for me called "The Heathenism of Worry"
And then this week I heard a sermon from "The" Jack Taylor that I will be learning from for a long time to come.
There's lots of hard work to do, and some may really try us, but we can do it confidently because it's all in God's plan! :-)
Note: My link above to Jack Taylor's sermon is to the video. If you would rather just listen to the audio, here is the link to that! :-)
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