From Cynicism to Dynamism

As an outside observer of the US political scene, it can be easy to merely track along with the features and bugs of American political infrastructure. But that’s not really what I’m interested in. Rather, there are the cultural tides that render an ebb and flow felt far beyond the borders of the USA.

The most overwhelming wave which the Trump victory signals is of a shift from cynicism to dynamism.

The cynicism of the last generational cycle meant that merit was ignored in favor of imposed redistribution. Self-determination was banned for the ambitious and promoted for the incapable. Leadership could only be of the “lead from behind” variety, while using privileges to extract wealth and favors via insider knowledge. They pursued exploitive taxpayer strip-mining in private, while feigning deference to the weak in public.

Dynamism has been chosen by America. This is a return to the Protestant work ethic which undergirds the American culture. American dynamism restores competitive merit.

If there is anything that describes the Trump ethos it is competitive merit. Everything is a contest. Everything is a measuring stick. The world is filled with winners and losers.

Competitive merit is embedded in the creation order. When God created Mankind, He commanded Man to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28). Their “dominion” mandate (Gen 1:26, 28b) was outlined as an Eden extension project which Adam was told to “work and keep” (Gen 2:15). Mankind was to compete against the existing environment (and himself) and re-create it according to his own pleasure for the glory of God. The hierarchy of Man over creation was to be submitted to the higher station of God over all.

Of course the Fall of Adam brought corruption to all competitive merit. Trump’s victory illustrates the same as he won the election but chose to do so by marginalizing the lives of the unborn. Winners and losers.

This is why competitive merit, which is a God-designed good, can be corrupted by sin. As illustrated by this comment:

The switch to dynamism from cynicism ought to be welcomed. But dynamism without Christ, can lead to building dark Babel-like edifices. God may see but condemn the competitive merit of Babel-like thinking, “nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” (Gen 11:6). So the threat of this dynamism directed in an ungodly way can lead to a Christ-less confidence. As the ethicist Dr Miller puts it:

The desperation of America at the religious oppression of Wokeism makes the Trump candidacy, along with his team of ex-Democrats appear messianic. Certainly the return of competitive merit is to be welcomed and dynamism is generally preferable to cynicism. The cynicism of the Woke religion hated life—the expansion of life, the extension of life, even the existence of life. Abortion has been the centerpiece of the current regime’s sacrificial system. The suicidal cynicism of it all has been deadly.

Dynamism is better. It holds to the original creation design of Mankind’s dominion over creation in expanding ways. So it is inherently pro-life by DNA. Yet sin’s corruption by Adam’s “choice” led to multi-generational, eternal death. So dynamism without being pro-life is against nature. Dynamism while being pro-death is still sick with cynicism.

The hope (and prayer in keeping with hope) is that the new dynamism will be redeemed. A redeemed dynamism, submitted to the hierarchy of Christ’s Lordship will make the dignity of life— the most dynamic competitive merit of all, to be cherished, protected and promoted.