How does one foment hope in a world where evil is everywhere? Only by choosing to believe that God can and will make it all seem like a fleeting yesterday, once it is over. And to do that, often makes me sound like a fool.

It seems to me justice and compassion are the two dominant attributes of God — worthy of our highest aspiration. “Justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne… Mercy and truth are before thy face” Psalm 89:14 Keep up the good work!

Thank you for being a hopemonger. And thank you for the link to Justice and compassion. =)

I have been reading through your blog, and as in all human endeavors I agree with some and disagree with some. All in all, you are on course, and I am edified constantly.

I do pause to say that your quote from A Generous Orthodoxy, p. 119 is perhaps somewhat off track. Evangelicals may be driven by emotion at times. “The love of Christ motivates us…” However, in the main evangelicals are driven by obedience. You know, “Go into all the world…”

In fact, an honest evangelical will tell you that some days one’s emotion is frustration and even anger. One feels like saying, “Fine, be that way, just go to hell…” But one shuts his mouth and goes into the street to witness to Christ despite one’s emotion.

Emotions come and go. rise and fall. Faithfulness and obedience are objective divine requirements that do not depend on one’s “feelings.” If that were the case, there are many days when an evangelical would not “go forth…” because he did not “feel” like going.

To be sure, there are times when one is genuinely thrilled, even giddy, that Christ has entrusted to us the words of life, but there are days when that vision is foggy and our darker emotions would fill us if it were not for the understanding that we have been commanded. He says go to one, and he goes.

The reference to judgementalism and finger pointing is best understood in that context. Shame on those who have left their mandate and stopped sharing the “good news” and emphasize legalism and other aberrations. I would submit, those who are busy evangelizing are not those who are wagging their heads and pointing fingers. Somehow, when one shares the Gospel, one becomes humbly aware that but for grace, we would be among the rabble who are the objects of self-righteous scorn.

If one’s obedience depending on the emotion of the day, much less would be done. Positive emotions follow obedience. The joy filled evangelical is not the finger pointer but the one faithful to duty.

Blessings on thee and thine,

Jon H Allen

I agree that the church is the mission field, and that any disciple deserves our support and encouragement. I think that what Barna is saying is that the work of the church in terms of salt and light to the world will best be accomplished by those who recognize that the church — the wineskin — has become sort of a bushel-basket meant to hold the grain but in reality is covering the light of our individual candles.

I’d like to hear a discussion of how Revelation 18:1-4 relates to what we’re seeing now in terms of the location of God’s people.