7: Hope and Political Visions of the Future

Political campaigns are always about the future. From “Let Us Have Peace” (U.S. Grant’s 1868 slogan) to FDR’s “Happy Days Are Here Again” (1932) to “Change We Can Believe In,” the message is *hope.* Things will get better. There’s something to look forward to.

 

But we know that somehow we keep finding ourselves stuck in the mud as human beings. Our efforts to establish justice, to make things better, are faltering and failing.

 

Jesus offers us hope that’s secure. His coming return both relativizes our hope for political good now and redeems our present imperfect efforts.

Sources: Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV)

Dallas Willard, as quoted in Bill Gaultiere, “Dallas Willard’s Definitions and Quotes,” Soul Shepherding.

The Book of Common Prayer (2019), Special Liturgies of Lent & Holy Week: Ash Wednesday

N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (New York: HarperCollins, 2008).

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, directed by Gareth Edwards (Lucasfilm, 2016).

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