Comments on: And the Opposite of Hope Is…?

By: Christopher Hoppe

Christopher Hoppe — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:47:36 +0000

Huw,
I’m trying to understand your comparison to modernism? Are you saying that cynicism comes out of modernism or Christians benefit from modernism? I was just confused by your statement, please help me weed it out! I’m taking my church through a class on worldviews and we just got through the dangers of modernism and it’s connection to Darwinism, naturalism, and secular humanism which are philosophies that go against the Christian (Biblical) Worldview. I hope you’re not saying that the Christian can benefit from this! Not trying to be offensive, just trying to grasp it your comment. Maybe this is just too deep for me this morning and I’m missing the point! Help!

Chris

By: Ron

Ron — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:46:06 +0000

A good word here, Peter: thanks. As I tracked with Miller’s points on cynicism you’ve brought to our attention I made a small jump to my morning Bible reading in Luke, where Jesus faced his time of wilderness temptations. Particularly Satan’s claim that all the world’s authority and glory “has been delivered to me” [4:6].

It’s striking that Jesus didn’t dismiss that claim but came, instead, to challenge its basis by asserting the priority of worshipping God and no one else. Adam had been given that authority and glory by God but then gave himself over to the Serpent’s words rather than to God’s word in the Fall. And without quite realizing what he had done he had become a follower of death rather than life. His new father was the source of all skepticism and self-absorption. Yet Christ simply offered a true word that shattered the serpent’s false promises. How? By reorienting us to the source of enduring hope: our delight that comes through worshipping and enjoying our Creator.

So thanks for letting my mind roam a bit through the field of God’s grace!

By: Stan Cooper

Stan Cooper — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:43:44 +0000

Hi Peter, read your article with interest. It seems that so many now are neglecting the powerhouse of the the church, PRAYER!!! As I was reading your article I was thinking about the river of God, and how much it speaks of stepping out of our comfort zones to live life fully in the flow of His spirit. The whole point of faith is that it hopes for what is not seen, and in our society nowadays it seems people only want to deal in actualities, what they can see. Is this where the body of Christ is losing out? Every church should be active and indeed on fire at prayer meetings, be it individual or corporate, yet we see numbers dwindling in prayer groups: it being seen as something “others” do!!!! Hope deferred makes the heart grow weary we read, but without hope where is the foundation stone of our faith. We should be seeing growing groups at prayer and constant testimonies in response to Our prayer answering God. Is it cynicysm or lethargy we are experiencing? Every blessing Stan

By: Huw

Huw — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:07:01 +0000

Yes, thanks Peter. Again very helpful and very challenging.

I was thinking recently about how much contemporary Christian thought owes more to Modernism than its thinker might dare to imagine – and this is another example.

I must say (again) I am guilty as charged. In my personal experience, cynicism is another form of self-protection (no hopes to be disappointed = no disappointment), and I find it interesting that you (or rather Miller) draws on the example of prayer – I’ve recently realised that particular periods of of “prayerless-ness” in my own life have been directly related to periods of cynicism, or related forms of doubting God’s goodness and/or kindness.

Challenging indeed. Thank you.

By: Rob Trenckmann

Rob Trenckmann — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:56:15 +0000

Peter,

Thanks for such a thought-provoking post. I hadn’t thought along these lines before, and I find them very helpful.

Thanks!