Did the church pirouette to find hope in the political candidate’s podium, the pundit’s pontifications, paltering prophets or the performative pulpit?

If so, it has executed a misstep from the Bible’s admonishments against placing our hope in lesser things. As warned by the prophet Isaiah, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord” (Isaiah 31:1, NRSV).

The scripture repeatedly guides us to place our trust in God alone, warning us of the perils of misplaced hope. Our modern era is rife with distractions and diversions that promise salvation and security through human institutions and ideologies.

Yet, the ultimate hope of the church and every believer rests not in these ephemeral structures but in the eternal truth of Jesus Christ. In pursuing political, social, and economic salvation through humankind’s interventions, the church must remember its true allegiance and where its ultimate hope lies— in God’s immutable grace.

I hear the enduring hymn “The Solid Rock” by Edward Mote. It serves as a theological reflection on where the local and universal church can find its hope.

Mote’s original composition includes a verse that is often omitted in contemporary hymnals, but holds great meaning. “I trust His righteous character, His council, promise, and His power; His honor and His Name’s at stake; To save me from the burning lake; On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” 

This overlooked verse emphasizes our allegiance must always be to Christ, our solid Rock, and our ultimate hope.

Mote’s words echo through the ages, providing a melodic reminder of our steadfast foundation in “Jesus’ blood and righteousness” and daring to “not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.” This declaration is not merely a lyrical meridian but a deep-seated affirmation of faith that transcends the temporal and the transient. 

The church’s role in society is to be a source of hope and a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the tumultuous storms of life. It should be a place where the weary can find rest, the broken can find healing, and the lost can find direction.

This can only happen when the church remains steadfast in its commitment to the gospel, untainted by the shifting sands of political expediency, questionable ruminations, deceptive revelations, or sermonic stagecraft.

The church must uphold the message of Christ with purity and conviction, demonstrating that true hope is not found in the fleeting promises of this world but in the eternal promises of our savior. This is the church’s calling, duty, and privilege as followers of Christ. 

As Proverb 13:12 instills, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

In the dissonant world, the church can be a living testament to the enduring power of God’s kingdom. The world cannot grasp the hope we have unless it witnesses us holding and proclaiming, “No other help I know.’” 

The church’s practical embodiment of hope is loving and serving others, advocating for justice, nurturing the spiritual growth of “the lost” and “the found,” being a neighbor and in community and living in Truth through its thoughts, words, and deeds. 

Hope is a building block of God’s kingdom and the fruit that God’s church bears for a hungry world to consume. Our witness must reflect our faith in Christ that goes beyond the present moment and reaches the eternal.

We cannot find or build our hope on anything less.