Hope

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
                                                  Ephesians 6:12


I think that most Americans would agree that we live in troubled times.  In the last few weeks alone we have seen turmoil in the stock markets, devastating loss of life and property in the California fires and numerous mass shootings, to name a few of the recent events that have shaken us as a nation.

There have been times in the past when difficult times and tragic events tended to bring us closer together as a country; but not so these days.  No.  These days such events seem only to serve as fodder to blame, and indeed demonize, political opponents.  More fuel for the anger -- more reason and proof that the deep division in our country cannot be bridged.

While anger is in the air these days, I actually don't think the predominate feeling among Americans is a feeling of anger or frustration or even helplessness, but of fear.  It is a fear birthed out of an uncertain future.  Some fear that the progress we have made toward a new and better America has been stopped in its tracks.  Others fear that the good in the America they once knew is rapidly dissipating.  Somehow, we all seem to have come to the conclusion that roughly half of the people in this country have lost their minds, and if not stopped soon will lead us into the abyss.

The church, for its part, seems to have lost its compass, and consequently seems to be doing little to bring calm in the midst of the storm.  Some churches and organizations have entered into the political fray -- alienating roughly half of the population in the process.  Others have all but ignored these troubled times, busily planning the next church growth event while the world around them seems to be sinking.

Personally, I think it is time to repent and for the church to return to being the church.  The battle, after all, is spiritual.  Our job in this church age, in this age of the Holy Spirit, is to advance the gospel.  It is to show people the love of Jesus Christ.  It is to lead people to the only real hope that they (or we) have.

There will always be problems in this world, and indeed those problems will likely only get worse -- regardless of who is on the next ballot.  But there is hope.  And it is our job to be the light that leads people to that hope.