some encouragement for fellow questioners

A friend recently shared that he was often perceived as a negative person with a 'downer on the Army'. And the reason for this perception? The fact that he deigns to question! He has the audacity to wonder whether or not our current reality is all that it should be, could be? Or whether God may have more in store. And so this 'dangerous daydreamer' is cast a pessimist with a chip on his shoulder.

Yet I'm increasingly convinced that dissatisfaction arises from an unrealised sense of hope, from a passionate belief that things don't have to remain the same and that an alternative, more glorious reality is possible. So while many may feel uncomfortable and perceive those who question as overly negative I'm excited by those who are dairing enough to question and brave enough to share their thoughts - I want more of it, I'd go as far as to suggest we need it. We may not find the answers we're looking for, but the least we can do is to ask the right questions.

To paraphrase the 'depressed-yet-hopeful' Brian McLaren in his depiction of 'A Generous Orthodoxy' 'if enough of us can bear the truth of our failures as Salvationists, if we can let that truth humble us and bring us from denial to sincere and profound repentance, if our hearts are made soft and responsive to the Holy Spirit through this painful but needed process, then there truly is hope in the midst of depression.'