In my previous post I mentioned the Psychology Today article on the failed American (& Canadian) Dream. The authors trace the rapidly declining satisfaction and personal meaning of Americans to unrealistic expectations. That is, expecting that achieving the standard trappings of “success” would bring meaning to life.
I’m wondering if the same could be said of evangelical spiritual life? That we have unrealistic expectations. So common it seems these days, that people leave the faith because of their personal hurts in life and the ensuing disappointment with God. “If God is good, how could he have let this happen?”
Yesterday I learned of a personal friend and long time pastor that has pretty much totally walked away from Christianity. Not shocking anymore...it’s becoming more and more common, even among Christian leaders. It wouldn’t surprise me if disappointment was at the core of his emotional reasonings. He’s had a tough go of it in his town.
What did Jesus promise to those who follow him? A worthy Bible study.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Finding Meaning
I'm reading the latest Ravi Zacharius book, "Dissappointment With God". In the personal interview in the back of the book he comments,
"Ultimately, meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. Now if this is true, pain and suffering are not the problem. The problem is finding meaning in a world in which so much is available and yet where true meaning is still so difficult to find."
Interestingly, in the mail came my recently new subscription to Psychology Today. This month's edition has an articale on the failed American Dream. It sites a survey from the "World Values and General Social Survey on the National Opinion Research Center". They found that amidst the successful headlong pursuit of fat incomes, 2 kids, 2 car garages (occupied), 2 master bathroom, etc. equalling satisfied adulthood....in acuality, the equation doesn't add up. The survey showed that North Americans have become more miserable over the last 1/2 century.
I don't believe P.T.'s analysis of the cause and solution of this mis-fired equation are correct as they typically don't leave any room for God into the equation. Furthermore, I find Ravi's quote interesting. It was made more as a comment on the problem many religious sceptics have concerning the problem of rectifying a good God with all the obvious pain in the world.
Perhaps we're looking at this issue wrongly. People in areas of the world that suffer the most tend to be the most religious. They don't seem to be blaming God for pain. Why would those in far less painful countries do so?
Maybe those in less developed countries, many of whom confront more harsh living than us westerners would, don't put their hope in the false materialistic promises of the so called North American dream. Behavioral researchers say much of the discontent in the west seems linked to the unrealistic expectations of this American Dream.
In the midst of all this, we might be wise to go back to the simple words of Jesus.
"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full." John 15:5
"Ultimately, meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain but from being weary of pleasure. Now if this is true, pain and suffering are not the problem. The problem is finding meaning in a world in which so much is available and yet where true meaning is still so difficult to find."
Interestingly, in the mail came my recently new subscription to Psychology Today. This month's edition has an articale on the failed American Dream. It sites a survey from the "World Values and General Social Survey on the National Opinion Research Center". They found that amidst the successful headlong pursuit of fat incomes, 2 kids, 2 car garages (occupied), 2 master bathroom, etc. equalling satisfied adulthood....in acuality, the equation doesn't add up. The survey showed that North Americans have become more miserable over the last 1/2 century.
I don't believe P.T.'s analysis of the cause and solution of this mis-fired equation are correct as they typically don't leave any room for God into the equation. Furthermore, I find Ravi's quote interesting. It was made more as a comment on the problem many religious sceptics have concerning the problem of rectifying a good God with all the obvious pain in the world.
Perhaps we're looking at this issue wrongly. People in areas of the world that suffer the most tend to be the most religious. They don't seem to be blaming God for pain. Why would those in far less painful countries do so?
Maybe those in less developed countries, many of whom confront more harsh living than us westerners would, don't put their hope in the false materialistic promises of the so called North American dream. Behavioral researchers say much of the discontent in the west seems linked to the unrealistic expectations of this American Dream.
In the midst of all this, we might be wise to go back to the simple words of Jesus.
"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full." John 15:5
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