Age of Miracles

Pastor’s Epistle—June, A.D. 2016 C

We live in an age of miracles. I know it doesn’t often seem like that, but it’s true. And when we take a step back to look at the larger picture, it becomes obvious just how blessed we are to live in this particular day and age, and why we must stay the course.

The world is thriving. Less than 100 years ago, in 1820, 94.4% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty. By 2015 that number had dropped to 9.6%, a shocking reversal. Obviously millions are still hungry and in need, and we must continue to fight famine and disease worldwide, but these statistics indicate the staggering success of our economic system, rule of law, and international trade agreements.

Our world is becoming more transparent. The internet, satellite imaging, cell phone cameras, and social media are creating a world in which governments and powerful individuals find it increasingly difficult to lie. Mass graves can be seen from space. Abuses of power are recorded in real time and uploaded to go viral. Records of financial transactions are scrutinized by the public and the media. Western concepts such as the rule of law, consent of the governed, and right to private property are taking root in populations across the globe, not because they are imposed but because they are good and true.

We live in the Pax Americana. By working with rising powers such as China and India, the United States is making great strides in bolstering a global order centered on free and fair trade. India has become the world’s largest democracy. China continues to liberalize its economy and, inevitably, its politics. The UN, corrupt and sclerotic as it is, has nonetheless prevented scores of conflicts and worldwide conflagration. Countries don’t want to topple world order anymore; they want to be integral parts of it. Perhaps the greatest success story of our postwar world has been Europe, which has accomplished something well-nigh unheard of in its history: 70 years of peace.

And the Church is growing in astounding ways. Throughout Africa and Asia, Christian communities are blossoming. The Russian church has arisen, reinvigorated, from a century of crushing Communist oppression. In terms of raw population, China will very soon become the most Christian country on earth. And the Church in Europe, whose immanent death has been predicted for generations, has received a shot in the arm from an unexpected quarter: thousands of Muslims refugees clamoring for Baptism in response to dreams of Jesus Christ. And that’s a very good thing, considering that all of the accomplishments listed above stem from strange biblical notions such as “thou shalt not steal,” “thou shalt not murder,” and “thou shalt not bear false witness.”

Of course, all this could rapidly change. Natural disaster, war, and economic collapse have a knack for radically altering the apparent arc of history. And Lord knows we have plenty of challenges as things are, from the threat of terrorism to environmental crises. But we must keep such difficulties in proper perspective. Compared to most every generation of humanity before us, we live in an age of astonishing power, wealth, and freedom. We can fly to the far side of the globe. We can read any book ever published. We can reasonably expect to see our eighties and beyond. The Pharaohs and Caesars and Kings of old would envy any one of us.

For all of this, we are thankful. Ours is an age of everyday miracles. And we pray for the strength to pass on this inheritance—not just of material things but of freedoms and ideas—to those who will come after us. We are still the stewards of God’s garden, still our brother’s keeper. May He guide us to live lives of gratitude, humility, service, love, and wonder. May He forgive us when we fail, and raise us when we fall. In Jesus. Amen.