It surprises me when many Christians engage in work to redeem the culture with a somber, morose, and even anxious spirit. I don’t pretend to be smarter or more spiritually mature than anyone else, but this particular attitude is curious and even a bit contradictory.
Have you ever encountered this from time to time?
A dear friend of mine who is a pastor once preached on an uplifting text of Scripture. He spoke of God’s sovereignty and perfect will, of His love and goodness and graciousness. He was not serving up weak tea; he preached about the centrality and sufficiency of the Gospel, as well as the power and glory of God.
After the service, a well-known evangelist who had been in attendance approached the minister. “You’re giving them too much hope,” he told him bluntly—and with that, he turned on his heels and walked out of the church.
Thomas Fuller once wrote, “Hope is the only tie which keeps the heart from breaking.” This is why the apostle Paul urged the Romans to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Hope in that which is noble can ease pain and bring comfort.
Hope will help to keep despair and despondency at bay.
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