The dichotomy between these two is the basis of Rah’s book, and he contended that the modern American church has over-elevated praise, which he called triumphalistic. Churches that are triumphalistic share a set of common characteristics: they elevate stories of success, gravitate toward narratives of exceptionalism (a view that sees America as inherently different from other nations, with a unique mission to transform the world), emphasize problem solving, and are marked by a can-do attitude backed by a belief that human effort and positive thinking can conquer the big problems we face.
