Where is Hope

During graduate school I had a class in statistics. I enjoyed the subject and it’s one of those topics with a long tail—meaning, what I learned studying statistics helps me make sense of life today. It was also amusing that one of the books my professor required for the class was titled, How to Lie with Statistics.

Nevertheless, it’s against this backdrop that I reference a recent Gallup poll reporting that since 2017 American’s belief in God has dropped by six percentage points to 81%, the lowest measure on this question Gallup has ever discovered. More troubling yet, among those who are 18-29 years old, the percentage drop since 2017 is 10%.

While a number of reports have noted for quite some time that America is a post-Christian nation, American’s belief in God has remained high. Until now.

Andrew Mark Miller interviewed four faith leaders in search of perspective on Gallup’s poll. His article was worth reading, but while the faith leaders offered opinions, they produced no consensus. In marketing terms, the sales reps for faith don’t know why their product (God) isn’t working for their customers (society).

Now would be a good time to get this disillusionment figured out. The majority of social markers measuring society’s health are abysmal. If there was ever a time for a resurgence of faith in God, now would be that time.

For the most part, I think those running the country tried to do the right things to manage the pandemic. Of course, there were the bad actors who made an awful situation worse, but I think folks like Dr. Francis Collins went to work each day dedicated to doing their best.

Still, as we get some distance between us and the pandemic, there are disconcerting reports like this from the think tank, Just Facts:

“Based on a broad array of scientific data, Just Facts has computed that the anxiety created by reactions to Covid-19—such as stay-at-home orders, business shutdowns, media exaggerations, and legitimate concerns about the virus—will destroy at least seven times more years of human life than can possibly be saved by lockdowns to control the spread of the disease. This figure is a bare minimum, and the actual one is likely more than 90 times greater.”

A conservative estimate of seven times, a more realistic estimate of ninety times, greater destruction from our efforts to manage the pandemic than the benefits derived from our efforts is huge. In fact, this finding is monstrous.

Quibble with the margin of error in this study and you play the fool. A statistical significance of seven-to-ninety times greater is astounding. Sadly, the implications are that all of the bad societal markers today are going to be exponentially worse tomorrow.

Meanwhile, belief in God’s existence is plummeting. Our faith leaders don’t know why, don’t know what to do, and sadly, many have reverted to endorsing politicians as America’s hope.

In times of duress, leaders who are in place are often found to be incapable of the leadership required of them in uncertain times. In times of duress, unlikely leaders surface—leaders who until now have labored behind the scenes for the simple reason that their leadership skills in managing chaos won’t come to light until there is chaos.

This brings me to you and two thoughts for your consideration. First, those with a steady hand and a cool head in times of uncertainty are often focused on doing their current job. If you know a person like this, it is often the case that a person with this set of skills needs to be pointed out and endorsed so that others can realize the benefit of their composed leadership. Second, who knows but what you are alive for such a time as this?

In either of these scenarios, I ask you to visit with your heavenly Father about what He would have you do.

Friend, the status quo is no more. We can debate what happened and why, but the fact of the matter is that our society is writhing in tumult, darkness, and confusion. To reference the Just Facts study, if you thought the pandemic was bad, just wait until the fallout from the pandemic manifests itself.

God is not worried about His reputation. Throughout history, God does His finest work in the darkest of times. Fix your eyes on Him, the author and finisher of faith.

You are equipped for such a time as this. Keep your wits about you. Lead from the security that is yours in Christ. Engage. It’s fair to lament the suffering of society, but societal health, the mid-terms, who’s in power, what the economy is doing, etc. is not where your hope or future lie.

As you know, I’ve been studying the decline of society and the church for many years. My book Rigorous Grace is my contribution to our solution as a society and the people of God. I encourage you to, a) read the book, b) share the book, and c) guide a group through the book. If you need something from me, let me know.

As I wrote last, we are in this together. Father has uniquely equipped us for today and tomorrow. Engage. Figure out the role Father has for you, then act in faith and confidence in the Spirit.

Dark days lie ahead, I’m afraid. I wish this weren’t the case, but it is what it is. The Light of the World indwells you and has endowed you with light to shine in darkness. Shine. Shine on.