Cynicism
I’m starting to see the poison of cynicism more clearly. Not that all cynicism is bad, just look at 1 Kings 18 and how Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, and there are many others. But each place where I see some form of cynicism, it’s pointed at the ridiculousness of false things compared to the glory of the living God of the Bible. But that’s not the kind of cynicism I’ve mastered, and definitely not the kind I hear from all my friends and associates.
I’m finding that the flavor of cynicism which I’m accustomed to is damaging to me, and all around me, in a seeming ever increasing number of ways. I’m not writing this because any particular instance. I’m just realizing how cynicism is robbing me of relationships, spiritual growth, and joy.
Cynicism is a thief of relationships because for every cynical comment, I sacrifice an opportunity for genuine relationship. Instead of a heartfelt question or an honest reply I offer a cheap, cynical substitute. Moments lost add up to relationships lost.
Cynicism is a thief of spiritual growth because for every cynical response, I sacrifice a God given opportunity to allow the Spirit of Christ to refine me. Instead of a spiritual pause and moment of submission, I quickly surrender the moment to the cheap, fleeting humor of cynicism. Moments lost add up to spiritual growth forfeited.
Cynicism is a thief of joy, because for every moment a relationship is enriched, every period of spiritual growth, there is great joy.
How often do we hide behind cynicism? How badly does it show that we want the praise of man more than God when we are far quicker to offer cyniscism than we are to listen or speak what is truly in our hearts?
The Lord’s brother was right when he wrote about what we say and how it’s like the rudder of a ship…such a small thing compared to the whole, yet it steers the whole boat. Or how what we say is like a blazing forest fire. Think of the California fires this past few weeks. All of that was started by very small flame. I grew up in California and I’ve seen many summer brush fires close enough to touch. The appetite of the flames seems unquenchable. It seems the appetite of a cynical mind is the same…never satisfied, never contented, never at peace.
