I should be working on the slides for the sermon I’m preaching in my pastor’s absence (approximately 38 hours from the time of this writing), but I feel compelled to stop and post a few thoughts on the topic of “Hope”. You see, “Hope” is the topic of my sermon. I discovered today that it’s also the topic of a book study that’s starting at my former church in Nebraska.

I dearly love many of the members at that church, and I like the pastors. And so it saddens me to see where the church is going, theologically. It seems to be the case with so many “progressive” churches today – minimizing (and on the verge of rejecting) the authority of scripture, focusing almost exclusively on “social justice”. Nearly all of those churches – mostly in the old mainline denominations –  are slowly dying, with attendance, membership and giving on a perpetual downward curve. The milk of universalism just isn’t very compelling for most people. I believe that’s by design – it doesn’t square up with God’s reality.

I should pause here and say that I believe there is a strong biblical justification for pursuing justice, and that much (most?) of American evangelicalism falls short in that regard. But justice carried out in the absence of deference to the authority and truth of scripture – all of scripture, and not just the parts that conform to our delicate and “enlightened” sensibilities – is sinful, and a figurative middle finger to the Creator of the universe.

The book my former church is studying is called ‘Hope – A User’s Manual’, by MaryAnn McKibben Dana. I’m not going to link to it because I’ve “looked inside” the book on Amazon, and I think it’s generally pretty horrible. Here are a few snippets from the “look inside” preview…

From the introduction on who this book is for:

Characterizing the apostle Paul’s writing as a “rigid merry-go-round” is meant to discount it, to de-legitimize it, and so to discount the authority of God’s word. The author is a full-on the disciple of the Kingdom of Me.

Later, she talks about hope in the face of unpleasant news (highlights are mine)…

I’m sorry…”bargaining with the universe”? The universe isn’t a sentient being. The universe is a created thing…which was actually created by a Creator. Bargaining with the universe? You’d be just as successful, and just as tragically foolish, by bargaining with a rock on the side of the highway. God is a Person – more of a Person that we can currently fathom. And all of His perfect, unassailable, incorruptible Personhood – His love, His mercy, His holiness, His wrath – is discoverable in scripture for those humble enough to set aside their own arrogant and delusional sense of godhood.

In another section of the book, she disparages advice about moving on too quickly from the past and setting your gaze forward. Certainly, acknowledging grief is an important part of healing. But lingering in it is sinful. And goes against what the apostle Paul calls us to do in chapter 3 of his letter to the church in Philippi.

Final excerpt from Dana’s book…

Notice the unyielding, relentless focus on the “kingdom of me”. “My” deepest self, “my” community, “my” best purpose.

Here’s a bit of unsolicited advice for MaryAnn McKibben Dana, and anyone reading her book. Pursue God and His purpose. Pursue Him – the God fully revealed in His word…including the parts of His personhood that may currently offend your sensibilities. Pursue Him first, and you’ll find your best purpose. Chase after Him – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and you’ll find true hope. And meaning. And mission.

There is no other path.