Cynics

Cynicism is a dangerous sin. It is one sin that can easily start to control us, but can also cover its tracks pretty well. It can even latch onto our intelligence, and use our smarts to keep us cynical. Many who are cynical often realize it, but that doesn’t stop them. Some people are proud to be cynics. This just makes them represent Romans 1:22. “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.”

Cynicism is present in the church. Cynicism can grip a person in ways that are hard to see through. Can make one realize they are not as faithful as others who worship the Lord, but also consider themselves more intelligent for not being so faithful. Cynicism can trick us into thinking we don’t need to truly worship. Cynicism can condemn us.

It causes us to look at those who raise their hands during worship, and cross our arms while we think we are so much better than those who embarrass themselves. We listen to the sermon, pick apart every word, and consider it a matter of pride to find something we think the pastor said wrong. It makes us feel more intelligent if we can find ways to consider ourselves better than others.

Cynicism gets worse than that. It can also cause us to think about the miracles of Christ, and know such things could never happen in the world of today. It causes us to look at lost people, and know there is no point to witnessing because they will never listen. It keeps us from trusting God, and from having complete faith. Cynicism is simply another disguise for doubt, and we should wipe it out when we discover its presence in our lives.

A cynic doesn’t believe. The Pharisees were cynics. Cynicism can and will prevent us from ever becoming the true follower of Christ we are meant to be. It emerges from many sources, but most commonly when other people let us down, or we fail at something. It creates an inability to forgive in our hearts that eventually transforms into cynicism. We need to learn to see through it, and not take pride in it. Christ died for us, and rose again. He did not let us down. He did not fail. He is our wonderful merciful Savior, and we should not let our cynicism enable us to scoff at such an idea.

Let go of cynicism. Have faith. Worship. Praise. Forgive. Believe.