I have been benefiting greatly from Paul Miller’s book, A Praying Life. It is outstanding. Chapter nine is on cynicism. Cynicism is a hopeless attitude that reveals a rebellious heart. Unfortunately it is a common attitude among many Christians.
Ironically, Christians should be the most hope-filled people on the planet. But sadly many Christians are not living daily in the good of hope. The Cross is no longer in the sights of the cynic.
Here are some quotes from Paul’s book on cynicism
“Cynicism creates a numbness toward life.”
“The opposite of a childlike spirit is a cynical spirit. Cynicism is, increasingly, the dominant spirit of our age. Personally, it is my greatest struggle in prayer. If I get an answer to prayer, sometimes I’ll think, It would have happened anyway. Other times I’ll try to pray but wonder if it makes any difference.”
“Satan’s first recorded words are cynical.”
“To be cynical is to be distant. While offering a false intimacy of being in the know, cynicism actually destroys intimacy. It leads to a creeping bitterness that can deaden and even destroy the spirit.”
“Cynicism begins with the wry assurance that everyone has an angle. Behind every silver lining is a cloud. The cynic is always observing, critiquing, but never engaged, loving, and hoping.”
“Cynicism is a perverse version of being in the world, but not of the world.”
“[Cynicism] protects you from crushing disappointment, but it paralyzes you from doing anything.”
“Cynicism and defeated weariness have this in common: They both question the active goodness of God on our behalf. Left unchallenged, their low-level doubt opens the door for bigger doubt.”
“A praying life is just the opposite. It engages evil. It doesn’t take no for an answer. The psalmist was in God’s face, hoping, dreaming, asking. Prayer is feisty. Cynicism, on the other hand, merely critiques. It is passive, cocooning itself from the passions of the great cosmic battle we are engaged. It is without hope.”
The Cynic’s Solution
The Christian cynic has lost sight of Calvary. The Cross of Christ, for the cynic, is more of a historical event than a riveting reality. The distractions of life have muted the Gospel’s voice. The cynic has forgotten the good news: the person and work of Christ.
The Christian cynic has listened too much to the new news, while distancing himself from the old news. He needs to be reminded of the Father’s victory on Adam’s Tree. He needs to re-marinate his mind in the Gospel.
It is fine if you want to call the cure optimism, but that optimism must be rooted in something more profound and unbeatable than what we currently see in our culture. Our optimism or hope must be rooted in the Gospel. This is the Father’s cure for the cynic.
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