Cynicism

Cynicism is a Trap of the Enemy

I believe a great danger facing us right now, during these challenging times, is the temptation to succumb to cynicism.  It’s so easy.  We hear a barrage of gloom and doom messages at every turn.

Even if one turns off the television, listens to inspirational music or chooses to watch positive messages and movies, negativity is all around us.  Listen to how people talk.  Listen to how YOU talk.  We’re a bit unnerved right now and the situation looks grim.

Prayer is out of schools.  Churches are being challenged as non essential and pits of unmasked, uncaring virus passers.  We sit with our friends, or we text or call them.  Talk turns to the peril facing American traditions, values and a life made rich by kindness, honesty and prayer.

We can clearly see those values are under attack.  We are horrified by lawless behavior, cruelty, shooting and  violence.  More frighteningly, our city and community leaders and the media have outright endorsed this behavior.

Everything we have known and believed in for generations is being mocked.  Prayer, Christianity, charity, and the sharing of God’s love has been twisted and turned.  Our traditions and beliefs, our educations and our hard work building careers is being erased.  It’s being minimized with terms like entitlement and privilege.  Those are the kinder accusations against us.

We’ve heard we’re racist, bigoted, cruel and homophobic. This coming from people carrying weapons, breaking windows, looting, burning and enjoying complete immunity to consequences.

As Christians how do we handle this new reality?  We trust the Author of the Universe!  We remember we’ve read the end of the Book and we win!  We do not give into hopeless feelings that it’s all over.  It won’t be over until God says it is over.

Several years ago Jay Leno “retired” and a comic named Conan O’Brien was hired to host the Tonight Show.  For reasons known only to NBC, a few months later they reversed themselves, brought Jay Leno back and sent Conan O’Brien packing.

I remember as O’Brien said his goodbyes to a confused fan base, he said something I have never forgotten.  He said, “All I ask is one thing, particularly of young people. Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism; for the record it’s my least favorite quality. It doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you amazing things will happen.”

That was generous and graceful advice.  He had every right to be outraged, to fan the flames of controversy, to attack the network and favoritism and the system.  He chose not to do that.

Right now it looks like every American value is under attack.  And it is!  But God!  He knew this was coming.  He told us this was coming. Those of us who read The Harbinger had additional confirmation it was coming.

It’s difficult to see the message being taught to our young people when we send them off to college.  It can look like we’ve lost many of our younger generation, but we’re called to remember God’s promises about our children.

How do we weather the storm?  We are a people called to faith.  If you believe the media, you’ll go home, crawl into bed and wait for Jesus!  You’ll listen to the voices of gloom and doom and you will become cynical. You’ll accept that our way of life has ended.  That we could face a world of socialism, forever masked, with very little personal freedom.

But God!  He is still the Author of the Universe.  He is still able to touch situations and turn them upside down.  Within the enemy’s camp He has placed His spies and His warriors. We are not able to see everything that is in motion. We cannot know how He is going to alter these events but we know He can and He will.

So guard your heart.  Don’t become cynical.  Don’t believe the enemy camp as they shout mockery and accusation at us.  We are the Bride of Christ.  We are Americans.  God designed this nation with its freedom of religion and it’s incredible freedom to do right or to do wrong.  It’s our choice.

Choose the voice you’ll listen to.  Choose the Word, the Author and the truth that will last forever.  Amazing things will happen.