Friday, February 04, 2005

What is a 'Positive Attitude' for a Christ-Follower?

A few posts ago, I discussed something called priming, mentioned in the best-selling book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. by Malcolm Gladwell. Basically, priming is the phenomenon by which attitudes are fostered, whether through conversations or other experiences. I suggested that it might be a good goal for all of us to be positive primers in others' lives, in turn helping them to meet life with positive attitudes.

It strikes me that, in light of the popularity of some preachers who claim to be Christian and clearly are not, it might be a good idea for me to define exactly what I mean by a positive attitude. I firmly believe that a positive attitude flows from faith in Jesus Christ. But, I feel compelled to explain what that doesn't mean and what it does mean, as I see it.

It doesn't mean that Jesus is a cosmic ATM. You may "name it," but that doesn't necessarily mean you get to "claim it." First and foremost, the follower of Jesus Christ makes his or her prayer, "Your will be done!" Jesus wanted the cup of suffering to pass Him by, but He went to a cross. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, preferred not being stoned to death, but it happened. Instead of naming it and claiming it, the Christian's highest ambition is to live lives of gratitude to God for making them His children.

It doesn't mean that you'll be wealthy. Many of Jesus' followers were poor, just as Jesus was and Jesus never promises money to those who believe in Him. He does promise us "daily bread." The fact that many go without their basic needs isn't an indictment of God for failing to provide or of those who don't have, but of those of us who do have who fail to find ways to share what God has given to us with others.

It doesn't mean that life will be all smiles and good times. Jesus was acquainted with griefs and sorrows and went to a cross. Following the Savior that the Old Testament prophet Isaiah described as the suffering servant may at times, bring more difficulties. Jesus once said, "In the world you face persecution." (He adds, "But take courage; I have conquered the world.") [John 16:33-34]

But here's what it does mean, from my vantage point.

It does mean that the God Who made us has forgiven our sins and given us new lives, ones in which He is committed to helping us live as we were designed to live and to live with God forever. (Second Corinthians 5:17)

It does mean that when we make God our highest priority, God gives us the desires of our transformed hearts. (Psalm 37:4)

It does mean that in a world that groans under the burden of sin, God gives us the power to suffer, when suffering comes, for the right reasons and with the right attitudes. (First Peter 3:17)

It does mean that God shows us our particular gifts, helping us to experience the fulfillment that goes with living in sync with our unique designs. And God helps us to find those gifts in the context of a caring community called the Church. (First Corinthians 12:4-31)

It does mean that God enables to both cope and hope, realizing that through Jesus Christ, we have a life with God that never ends. (Romans 8:31-39)

Some so-called Christian preachers, like Joel Osteen, preach a sugar-coated, non-Christian version of Christian faith. In their pseudo-gospel, they totally ignore the reality of sin that earns all humanity a death sentence. (Romans 6:23) They ignore our need to repent, that is, turn from sin, and humbly receive forgiveness from Jesus. They ignore our need to surrender to God through Christ and to make "Your will be done" our daily prayer. They forget too, that this world--and its successes that must end at the grave--cannot be the ultimate object of our concerns. The New Testament reminds Jesus-Followers:

"If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (First Corinthians 15:19)

Just a few thoughts on a Friday night.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hear! Hear!