Ep.1332: Am I Too Cynical or Not Cynical Enough?
Examining the many dangers and the potential positives of cynicism
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: John 1:46
Our world is such a cynical place. Sometimes it feels like every time you turn a corner, you’re met with frustration, unrest and a lack of trust. Because we have so many platforms through which we can speak, we do. When we speak, our words and sentiments are often full of accusation and vitriol. We harshly address “those people.” You know the ones. "Those people" on the other side of this or that issue whom we often label as uneducated or ignorant, as members of the wrong party, wrong belief system, wrong ethnicity or wrong culture. We speak to be heard, and we neglect speaking so others will listen. We are cynical, and this cynicism is to the detriment of all. As Christians, we should NOT participate in this damaging interpretation of free speech. So, is it possible to be cynical in a positive way?
The Bible gives us many examples of cynicism.
Perhaps the simplest example is the words of Nathaniel when Phillip told him that Jesus was the Messiah. Nathaniel answered with that well-known phrase, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” While this statement is on the milder side of cynicism, it absolutely captures the power of cynical thoughts and comments.
First, this statement was likely a common saying in Jesus’ day, as Nazareth’s reputation didn’t carry the highest levels of honor and credibility. It was like our saying today that this or that person came from “the other side of the tracks.” We are implying that location “over there” is simply not a good place, and you certainly don’t want to have anything to do with it.
Second, Nathaniel’s statement was a gross generalization about Jesus. In this case, the assumption states that who someone is or can be doesn’t matter if they are from THAT place. It proclaims one’s origin unequivocally determines one’s permanent station in life. It implies there can be no honor or greatness in any individual with such a background. The implanted thought is that we should not waste our time even considering such a person! This is what cynicism can look like, and we can perpetuate it by simply repeating things others have said.
Can cynicism ever be appropriate?
Check out our May 6, 2024 podcast, Am I Too Cynical or Not Cynical Enough?” for more. We look at several scriptural examples of the many ways being cynical can creep into our lives. These examples give us clear direction regarding the lines we need to draw in our own hearts and minds. We focus on how our responses to cynicism can either contribute to hurt or healing. We also look into what appropriate cynicism looks like. Yes, that’s right, there is such a thing as "appropriate cynicism." We know this because the Bible actually gives us a clear example of what it looks like and how it works. Don’t miss this important and revealing conversation that directs us to think about what we are thinking about!
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