Today is a time to build. This is an article I wrote and deleted numerous times trying to get the wording right. An angst, if you will, that’s been running through my mind in the culture we now live. With much of our world seemingly falling apart, there is a call for some to change the tide by building. Building character, building community, building things. Perhaps this calls to some turns into a rallying call for all.

Cancer of consumerism

The cancer of consumerism runs deep. The knee jerk reaction when walking away from something is where do I go next? Who do I go to to fill a void? Those frustrated with Disney or Target then look for the next place to consume. This consumerism effects our jobs, places we worship, communities. The cancer is what is in it for me, as if we are centers of the universe. This also develops an entitlement mentality where instead of building what I need, I look elsewhere to consume what I want.

Cancer of hiding

For a period of time our culture was distracted from the reality that life is hard, not fair, and we are mortal. In our fight or flight nature, this distraction caused us to run. A big part of that running was the synagogues or temples of entertainment. This running we inherited by forefathers in the evangelical world. They abandoned the universities and cultural engagement for the so called simplicity of the the Gospel, leaving us with the mess we’re in today. The cancer is ambiguity when there is needed clarity, or a winsomeness instead of a call to truth in matters of empathy.

Cancer of victimhood

These cancers lead to another, the one of being a victim. Of viewing the world through the demonic stained glasses of oppressed or oppressor. This allows us to satisfy the emptiness of our life, and spiritualize our grieves actions. It takes work to fulfill a responsibility, and thus we spiritualize our sin. Feelings over truth, tragedy over triumph, and so anger over joy. Too often we neglect to see that a victimhood mentality and anger are addictive. The cancer is choosing laziness over joy.

Build hope

There is hope in bringing order to your world by building. Turn your homes into castles, your churches into cathedrals, your communities into havens of peace and prosperity. Building, that which we put effort in to improve and make beautiful, demonstrates hope. It changes the narrative from nihilism to possibility. We can only survive seconds without hope, but hope requires action. This is what faith looked like in Hebrews 11. Choose courage and build something.

Build curiosity

God gave us creation to not just care for, but to inspire us. His goodness and provision are seen throughout the largess of the universe and the smallest details of how things work. With building should come the curiosity to see how we can improve upon what we are doing of even to discover something new. The call to subdue the Earth is not a call to slavery but one of delight. Creation is for us, to be explored, to look to the stars, and in doing so live to the glory of God. Curiosity asks how we can thrive where we are. To figure out how to do all things through Him who gives us strength.

Build character

The duty of a man is to provide, protect, and to pass on. Out of those three, it is our character that we ultimately pass on. Our character is that precocious jewel refined by the firestorm of life. What we build and protect will one day vanish like a vapor, but godly character echos for eternity as we lay such treasure at Jesus’ feet. We need new stories, new ways to entertain and be delighted that build anew what is of true worth, our character. We need strong men again to make this so.

Make it so

The proverbial thought about grass on the other side being greener is wrong. It is also wrong that the grass is greener where we fertilize it. It’s not about us. We have a responsibility to take care of where we are at that it may bless and provide for others. For those in need, for future generations, for those whom you are privileged to live with. Whether resources are great or small, knowledge vast or limited, you can choose to build.

Why build when so many things are falling apart? Because we can. Because it is what we are here for. Because it is the greatest demonstration of the Hope we have within us.