Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-15-2018

Abstract

The gospel of Jesus Christ is wrapped in the notion of God’s “will be[ing] done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10 NIV). The good in the good news (or gospel) looks a little different for every age, culture, and context. Unlike the Eastern notion of karma, or what goes around comes around, the Christian gospel centers on God’s grace being offered to those who accept Jesus’s kindness and authority. God extends grace so that men and women do not receive what they deserve; therefore, what goes around does not come around. Many find this to be good news, particularly when they realize that they are not as kind, merciful, and conscientious as they might wish. My premise is that current North American college students have a deep sense of their flawed nature and are genuinely attracted to the possibilities of hope being restored in their lives. I will unpack what observers, practitioners, writers, and theologians note (a) about these students and (b) about hope. I will then reflect on my own interactions and observations with regard to students, hope, and the good news of Jesus Christ.

Comments

Originally published as "The Unexpectedness of Hope: Good News for a Generation," By David M. Johnstone, July 15, 2018, Christian Scholar's Review.


https://christianscholars.com/the-unexpectedness-of-hope-good-news-for-a-generation/

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