CYNICISM IS OUR SOCIETAL CURRENCY

Cynicism is our societal currency. It's harmful to democracy but it is our default social coinage. It is injurious to relationships but it our learned security.
Hope was the preferred currency until we ruined it. Any institution that you name has lost people's trust and confidence, government, law enforcement, banks, corporations, organized religions, education, and even the press. In fact, news sources are the propagators of cynicism. Networks are predisposed to an interpretation. Objectivity is obscured by bias. Comedy, talk shows, celebrities and film augment cynical attitudes. Saddest of all, we have become less trusting of one another. 

Too often politicians have failed to keep promises and have catered to special interests. Law enforcement has broken law and failed to keep streets safe. Banks have screwed customers' futures with easy credit. Corporations have expanded the space between wealthy and middle class. Religions have displayed repeated hypocrisies. 

As the institutions fail us, our immediate worlds are filled with truth-starved, connection-starved, hope-starved people.

SHOULD YOU BE INVOLVED IN RESTORING THE CHURCH?

What if God wants those who cannot help but be cynical about church right now, to actually help improve it? What if some of the observations that have fed the cynicism are actual? And now, what if you cynics are actually being called by God to reconstitute her, that is, the church? You can sit on your duffs and crab until you croak but that will serve no purpose. If you agree that the church is enduring, and by that I mean the church constituted of all whom Christ has emancipated, then you cannot in good faith give up on her. You are part of her. If you are correct to be cynical about the condition and the operations of church, are you not one of those many who should be active in restoring her credibility?

ROAST THE CHURCH

It bothers me. I have friends who are avid and unquestioning church supporters. They are uncomfortable with conversation that is critical of church. I also have friends who express cynicism about church, skepticism with which I do not altogether disagree. So I’ll tell you what I am thinking. People are disappointed with church. The church should want to hear about that, yet because it is a closed subject in church, articles, books, and blogs poke at the church, deride the church. There have always been jokes about religion. This is different. This is a preoccupation, even a movement. Knock the church. Roast the church. That’s partially explained by the failure of church leaders and members to listen and to discuss the reasons why a growing percentage of Christians are dissatisfied. So the disappointed withdraw and possibly become this vocal resistance to which I refer. The crazy thing is, both positions argue from the conviction that the church belongs to Jesus, and he loves the church. One side queries, “how can you dare to be cynical about Christ’s bride?” The other side charges, “the way you are doing church, is losing credibility, confidence and relevance.”