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.

ISIS HAS NO FREEDOM

Credit for the image and content is to Jim Cunningham. It was presented to me as an illustration of how one can acquire and achieve freedom within personal relationships. In that context one's faith relationship with Jesus Christ opens possibilities for forgiveness and reconciliation and mutual respect with people who have been offensive or adversarial or uncaring. 

The visual also speaks to me about the differences between the terrorist group ISIS and followers of Christ.

DUBIOUS ABOUT MIRACLES

We are so comfortable with the mundane, that we do not anticipate anything supernatural. We are theoreticians, academics. We state a belief in the phenomenal God for whom nothing is impossible, but we expect nothing beyond the routine as the consequence of our prayers. We believe He can, but we don't believe he will. Ours is a virtual reality. It's a pretense to trust. We ask for so little. We petition using banalities, truisms and clichés because we lack confidence in God, to ask boldly. "We" means all whose faith identity is Christian, Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox branches, whether denominational, undenominational, non denominational. We are a jaded bunch of professors, who make excuses for God. We are doctrinally dogmatic and practically agnostic.

Admittedly, I am overstating my case, painting this portrait with a broad brush. The subject is a Bride, whom I could paint precisely like DaVinci painted Mona Lisa, but my work here looks like an abnormally featured Picasso. We determine not to be identified with wing-nuts who charm snakes, and fake healings so we treat the miraculous as unscientific and irrational. Trying to insure that we are perceived as sane, we have placed ourselves in straight-jackets. Of course we should acknowledge our doubts or inability to understand everything about God, but surely we do not have to be cynical, contemptuous, disparaging, and suspicious of a God who can do very much more than all that we ask or even imagine.

CHECK YOUR FACTS OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL

“Really?” I have heard that one word question a few times when discussing with others what they heard from respected pastors in a sermon. And it’s not just millenials who are checking the facts. When preachers tell stories or illustrate key points with anecdotes purported as fact, rest assured, a few people are scrutinizing the evidence. Increasing numbers of churchgoers are living with internet constancy, and that means that when the ear flags a questionable statement, google or Snopes are referenced immediately, and you may have lost that hearer for the duration. Get your facts straight. Don’t spew myths. Don’t fail to do your homework on the stories as well as the bible text. Check your facts so your credibility remains convincing.