I will not be making a shocking statement to say that a vast majority of the world is without hope.
When you read of a girl age 14 who lives in an AIDS-ravaged country making dubious sexual choices because her friends said “sex is fun” and she has nothing else to look forward to, it breaks your heart. Something is wrong. Speaking to a pastor she said, “I decided to have as much sex as I can. Hopefully I’ll have AIDS by the time I’m fifteen and be dead by the time I’m twenty, and Pastor, I’m right on track.”
That’s a deep and abiding hopelessness that needs something real to counteract it. Empty platitudes aren’t going to cut it.
But this same pastor and church are making an amazing impact by taking care of the sick, educating, and sharing Jesus. They are transforming a culture.
That gives me hope. I can make a difference too. You can make a difference. Our hope just has to be expressed.
Richard Stearns points out that this is a defining moment for the Western church. He wonders if history will record
…a Church that had wealth to build great sanctuaries but lacked the will to build schools, hospitals, and clinics?
There certainly is a lingering question, but I have hope. I believe the heart of Jesus and His great compassion will not be denied. I believe many are being captivated and arrested with vision to see cultures, cities, and nations transformed. I believe th Church is waking up and expressing the hope to which we’ve been called.
Having hope and offering hope–that’s a powerful way to live.
As I consider all this, I remember that a call to hope is stronger than sharp criticism or condemning guilt. People with hope reach out. If we believe that Jesus can save, transform, heal, and deliver through our hands, giving, service, and love–the world won’t stay the same.
Do you have hope for the Church? What is our biggest need in expressing hope? How have you expressed hope lately?
This is a continuation of our book club discussion of The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (read my disclosure here). This week we’re in Chapter 22: Tale of Two Real Churches. If you have a response as well add it below and add to the discussion. Be sure to also head over to my friend and co-facilitator, Sarah Salter’s blog. Whether you’ve read the chapter or not, share your thoughts! I always look forward to our conversations.
I also included this post in the Faith Barista Jam over at Bonnie Gray’s Site where this week we discuss Hope. Go check out all the great posts there too!
34 Comments
I know you asked a question, but I’m having a hard time getting over the quote from the girl. That’s just gut wrenching.
Michael recently posted..Let Us Live In Your Hands
Same with me after I read the chapter. I can’t shake it (which is a good thing). Thanks Michael.
I admit to not knowing how to speak hope into that girls’s life but I know the Father can. I believe the Church can bring Hope when we fall more desperately in love with Jesus…then we won’t give up so easy.
Thanks Jason….
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you’re slamming the door in the face of God. ~Charles L. Allen
So true--love will cause us to do some pretty amazing and impossible things. Love that quote. Thank you, Jay.
Great perspective jason. Love the idea of hope. And we/the church have it all because of the ONE Whom we serve. Thanks for this. It gives me hope.
bill (cycleguy) recently posted..Talk Is Cheap
That was my hope…to give some hope.
Thanks Bill.
I do have Hope for the Church. And I think we need to reach out because of our hope to share that hope to the world: Jesus.
Dusty Rayburn recently posted..BD-THiOG Will You Represent
The more I think about it, the more I firmly believe that if we trust Jesus who said He would build His Church then we have to have hope. He’s not going to lose. In fact, He’s already won. Thanks so much, Dusty.
I have hope for the church. My hope is we will continue to see ourselves as the church--us--not the building we congregate in. And that we will understand that our Father’s business should be mostly conducted outside that building. It’s the sick that need doctors, and we gotta make house calls.
katdish recently posted..Choosing my own reality
Excellent way to state it, Kat. Thank you very much!
I believe that there is hope as long as Jesus is alive. And he is always going to be alive.
He once was slain but now He lives forevermore! Love it. Thank you, Matt.
Wow -- that quote from the girl breaks my heart.
As far as your question, I do have hope for the church, but I do believe it (and by it, I mean we) need to wake up to the fact that buildings, programs, lighting systems for worship and even an hour to two hour services on Sunday mornings is not what Christ envisioned for the church. It was a group of people who took care of the poor, orphan, widow and alien…and transformed a culture. There is hope. There is always hope for the church. I just pray we realize it sooner rather than later.
Jason Vana recently posted..The Power of a Team
Exactly my feeling. It’s going to happen--the world will be changed--but will it be us who rises to the challenge and gives our everything? I’m praying and doing my best to lead that direction! Thanks Jason.
My hope right now is that the Christians in the Church will stop fighting with each other over stupid stuff (“Why did you hold this event in Winter time, not many people are here. We should have done this when the weather is nice!” but when the weather IS nice “People don’t want to be indoors in beautiful weather like this!!!1″). I mean, c’mon, let’s do it, whether it is a pro life movie to educate the interested (whether “the choir” or “the prodigal”), or whatever!
The only thing I miss about being uninvolved in the Church is not knowing who is mad at who for what stupid reason! But I DO have HOPE that we can overcome the pettiness!
hoooo….. what a rant!
Thanks for letting me express it here!
Helen recently posted..By Special Request
I provide the space and you provide the thoughts!
I know what you mean. There’s no reason to fight about it and not everyone is going to agree all the time. Let’s do it or try it and go from there. Too much to get done to be fighting all the time! Thanks so much, Helen.
Great post Jason. I hadn’t heard of this book until yesterday and now I’ve heard about it all over!
I do have hope for the church. We’ve seen books like Radical, Crazy Love, Christian Atheist, this one, and others that have begun calling the church to a higher standard. I think we may be turning a corner.
Yep and it all starts with a personal transformation. I have to see myself change by His grace and then express that to the world! Thanks so much, Matt.
Having hope is offering hope…
I love that thought, Jason. I find your optimism refreshing concerning this manner. I, on the other hand, tend to wonder, “When is God going to show up?”
I never stop to consider that I’m just standing there, doing nothing.
Thanks!
You and me both, DS. We all have to “wake up” every once in a while in that regard. Thanks sir.
God uses a church without walls more successfully to reach out to the hopeless more than he uses one with walls.
That’s it, Eddy. If we are only the church on Sunday in a building, we can’t do and be all He’s made us for. That simple. Thanks for your thoughts.
Well, I’m not feeding people literally who are hungry for food in a big way, but hope expressed for me right now is feeding people spiritually, but loving them in ways that are unexpected in the culture around me. Here in Silicon Valley,people are all about rush, achievement and stressing out!
I express my hope by taking time to listen, talk and care about others. So time is how I’m expressing it best in my current season in life with two small kids. Loved your challenge here, Jason for the jam!
Bonnie Gray | FaithBarista recently posted..The Faith Triangle- Live Boldy And Stop Beating Yourself Up
That makes such a huge impact in people’s lives, Bonnie. Taking time with people can never be undervalued. Thanks for your thoughts here (and the jam--glad to be a part).
To have hope and give hope without judgement of those who might not be wiling to -- wow! I’m hopeful
I was there at “not willing” because of fear. People loved me through it and now I’m here having and giving hope. I’m aware there will be times I’ll be there again, but His grace, mercy and love draw me here again --
to have hope and give hope without judgement. Thank you Jason. Woo!
Jeri Taira recently posted..A Refreshing Hope and a Prayer Request
It’s awesome what God’s love will do. That He uses us as vessels of it is so amazing! Thank you for your thoughts, Jeri--much appreciated.
My hope for the church is for the hearts of it’s people… that they would stop looking for what they think church should give to them and just start worshiping Him. Impacting post, thank you!
That would be a massive turning point! Thank you, Heidi.
I think I’m sometimes guilty of not giving the church enough credit as a source of hope. If Jesus is there, there is hope. Always. Thanks for provoking thought.
Lisa notes… recently posted..Get your hopes UP
You’re not alone, Lisa. It’s a struggle sometimes, but He always helps us see. Thanks for your thoughts.
I totally agree with:I believe the heart of Jesus and His great compassion will not be denied. I believe many are being captivated and arrested with vision to see cultures, cities, and nations transformed. I believe th Church is waking up and expressing the hope to which we’ve been called.
Jesus IS building HIS Church; ACTS are being restored-I believe that as we become sold out to God in WORSHIP, He WILL have His way in us and through us to the lost, the hurt, the broken, the dying, the lost- if we just quit trying to do things in our own strength and allow Him free access to flow through us, HOPE will flood into our hurting world and His people will become the city on the Hill to whom the world looks for guidance. WE can’t, but HE CAN. HOPE is in Him, through Him.
Yes and amen! Wonderfully said. Thank you, Mary.
Thanks for the reminder that people with hope reach out. I get so confounded by the bigger and better I see in churches here. Your statement reminded me to look and see how my church is reaching out. It is. It’s core—even when we’re in the midst of moving to a permanent facility. It’s not just bigger and better, there are good reasons and one of them is outreach.
Sheryl recently posted..TCKs You Already Know
Totally agree, Sheryl! We make the most with what God gives us and it’s all His grace. Thanks for your sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated!