On Cynicism, pt. 4 (the dream)

I'm subverting the trilogy formula and adding a forth addition to my cynicism thread. Barring an epiphany, being taken up into the third heaven, etc., this will be my last post on cynicism. It's long as I type this, and I'm not done yet, but I need to finish it. So, I'm sorry or you're welcome - whichever applies.

I've blogged already in various posts about the nature of Christian hope and the taint of cynicism on said hope. Now is the time to address this taint explicitly. Let me cite my friend Mac (who undoubtedly is a fan of V for Vendetta) from his brilliant piece in the recent student publication of the HUGSR newsletter, Under the Bridge (props to current Editor Bob LaBlob - holla). Mac discussed the relevance of dreams, specifically that most famous of dreams imagined by the good Dr. King:

"It was Dr. King's ability to craft a vision of a new America and to communicate that vision to others that brought about change in our nation. It may surprise many people in this world that dreams are more powerful than laws, or armies, or even history, but it should not surprise Christians. As Christians, we serve a God who dreams."

Wow! I got goose bumps reading that, and I got them again typing those words. As a side note, if you don't get the picture to the left, I can't explain it to you. But I will say it again, wow! That is powerful rhetoric. Before we get to the implications of a God who dreams, we must look one last time at the negative.



Here's the deal with cynicism. It's a sin. The impetus for this thread began with some introspection, but was further spurred by a conversation with Randy Harris. I was sitting in a class of his at NCYM, and he said in passing that cynicism was a sin. "Uh oh," I thought. So I arranged a time with him and my buddy Josh to discuss these harsh words. After all, I thought he was a little cynical too! So Randy, Josh and I had a chat, and Randy shared with us how he felt cynicism opposed the divine imagination. Of course, he did allow that there is a place for satire, so there's the loophole.

Subverting the divine imagination. I like that - as a phrase, of course. As an act, it sucks. But I want to take it one more step. Subverting the divine imagination requires a certain kind of disposition or character. Specifically, subverting the divine imagination/cynicism is a sin because it reeks of arrogance. Cynicism stews in the dutch oven of empty rants from haughty lips that no one cares to hear.

How can this be? Cynics aren't heart broken at the current state of things; they're upset because they think they know the way things ought to look and they don't look that way. They don't want things to improve; they just hate the way things are. At the core of all this, I believe, is a proud heart. Out of arrogance, the cynic mocks others but offers no hope for change. The cynic says, "YOU are doing it wrong." By implication, we may assume that the cynic implies that he or she is doing it right. However, in truth, the cynic does nothing. The cynic only thinks he or she knows what is right. This is the grizzled old bum who gave up on life who we see in the movies (Finding Forrester comes to mind). As a result, the cynic gives up. But this hopelessness is only the effect. It is arrogance at the core that causes this loss of hope.

Of course, these old and lonely cynics are never the protagonist. It always takes the young, brash, naive hero to spur the cynic out of hiding and into action. And, the difference is not that the hero claims to be doing it right. Where the cynic says, "YOU are doing it wrong." The hero says, "It's not supposed to be LIKE THIS." He may not always be able to offer a clear picture of what it should look like. But the hero is willing to say, "THIS should not be."

So, we deny cynicism because it is arrogant, and because it subverts the divine imagination.

Maybe I don't know what a perfectly just world looks like, but THIS poverty should not be in my city. THIS lack of opportunity for the poor should not be. THIS lack of education for an abandoned generation of young African American children in Memphis should not be. THIS church that looks only like me should not be. THIS argument over insignificant issues like instrumental music should not be. THIS materialism among Christians should not be. THIS lack of concern for those who do not know Christ should not be. THIS lack of love from those who are called to emulate the God who is love? IT SHOULD NOT BE!

And THIS lack of a dream or vision within the church who serves the God who dreams? It should not be.

I have a dream that one day God's people will begin to dream again. And not only that they will dream, but that they will hope in the one in whom there is power to make those dreams come true.