How would you answer the following multiple choice question? (This question is a bit subjective, so it is hard to say that one answer is absolutely right, but give it a try.)

The world is

a) Worse than it has ever been

b) The same as it has always been

c) Better than it has ever been

Many doomsayers (Christians included) would have us believe that things on the earth are getting worse and worse. These same folks usually have a book to sell that tells us what is going to happen in the near future. Of course, we all want to be ready, right? Yet, there is growing evidence that “a” is the most inaccurate answer in our pop quiz.

Here are some surprising statistics from an article by Philip Yancey that appeared in the magazine “Christianity Today” a couple of years ago.

Thirty years ago 53% of the world’s adults could not read. Now it is only 20%

In the last generation the number of people worldwide suffering from malnutrition has gone from 40% world wide to 20%

Three of four people worldwide had no access to clean water. Now 3 of 4 have it.

Thirty years ago one in eight children died in the first year of life. Now it is half that.

The World Bank estimates that the number of people living in absolute poverty has been cut almost in half, and per capita income has risen almost 60%

How about our youth right here in the US? They are so bad compared to previous generations, right? Well, that might be a truism that is not true. The teenage pregnancy rate has dropped 30% in the last ten years. The abortion rate in our country has dropped by almost half. Now, here is something to shock you. Many surveys show that teenagers of today on moral issues… are more conservative than their parents!

For the first time in history we live in a world where democracy is the dominant force. In fact, since the fall of the Soviet Union, 71 nations have become free or partially free.

Recently, I saw  part of a speech by a doctor and researcher named Hans Rosling. If you answered “a” in our beginning question, the things Rosling presents may make you think again. You can view this presentation which debunks many of the myths about the third world by clicking here.

I am saying all this not to try to make you believe the world is a perfect place. We are far from that. What I am suggesting is that the money we spend on books telling us how bad things are might be better spent on helping the world become a better place. Moreover, instead of trying to predict when it will all end, perhaps we should focus on making the present better. I guarantee if we do, we will feel a whole lot better and a lot less afraid.