The World Doesn't Need Pessimistic Christians

 The World Doesn't Need Pessimistic Christians

March 9, 2022 by Jack Wilkie

There’s really no way to put a pleasant face on it – we’ve reached the “tough times” part in the cycle of history.

Forget reclaiming the standard of living we were used to just 2 years ago: inflation and shortages are putting it further in our past every day. The things that are making the gas prices go up and the dollar go down will get worse before they get better. Food and other basic needs will only grow more expensive. Global uncertainty and instability will continue. Government overreach here has grown to levels previously unseen in our lives, and there may be more to come. There is no reason to pretend these things aren’t happening.

In order to engage the world and make a positive difference in it, we have to be realistic about it. A Pollyanna-ish outlook will not help us or anyone else. We as American Christians are about to learn to live by faith in ways not seen since the Great Depression.

However, being realists does not mean we have to become pessimists. In fact, it is imperative that we don’t.

The world is living through the struggles, too. They know how difficult things are. What they see from us through these times will go a long way in cementing their view of Christianity. If they see anxiety, fear, impatience, coming from Christians, they will see we have no better answers than anybody else.

We should be showing the world the joy we have based in our purpose now and in our hope for the future.

Embrace your purpose

In good times, our purpose is to take up our cross, follow Jesus, glorify Him, and help point others to Him. In bad times, our purpose is to take up our cross, follow Jesus, glorify Him, and help point others to Him. He is our strength and purpose in good times and our strength and purpose in bad times.

This is exactly what Paul was getting at in the much-misused Philippians 4:13. The immediate context reveals that Paul is talking about living with contentment in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in (4:11-12). Imprisonment, freedom, poverty plenty, whatever else life threw at Paul, he could handle it because he was living for Christ and Christ was empowering him to persevere.

In the chapter’s broader context, Paul commands the Philippians to rejoice always (4:4). We can do this because rather than being anxious, we can put our requests before God with all thanksgiving and He will guard our hearts with a peace that surpasses all comprehension (4:6-7).

Having peace in times like these would not make sense. It would surpass all comprehension. “Why are those Christians so calm through all this,” the world might ask. Well, because we traded our anxieties for God’s peace while we live for His purposes instead of our own, and in that we can rejoice.

Hold on to your hope

When I was a kid, my dad would record sporting events that came on when we weren’t able to be home to watch and would do everything in his power to avoid hearing the score. When we’d get home he would have me go down and re-wind the game, because he knew I wanted to know the score and he didn’t. He would then sit and watch the game, reacting to each turnover or point scored with joy or frustration. I, on the other hand, who knew the final score of the game, was not on the same roller coaster of emotions. Why get nervous about a first quarter touchdown given up when you know your team wins anyway?

Christian, you and I know the final score of this game. We know all of Jesus’ enemies – including the evil rulers of this world – will be shattered by Him and put under the footstool of His feet. We know we will reign with Him for all eternity. Knowing the final score means we don’t have to ride the roller coaster of day to day emotions, even in bleak times such as these.

Jesus was incredibly realistic about the threats the apostles would face. He knew He would be killed, and He knew the same people would come after His followers, too (see John 15:20). However, He wasn’t pessimistic. He reassured them He would be with them and told them to “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (16:33b). Peter took this to heart and encouraged his readers to rejoice in the trials coming their way “for a little while” as they looked forward to seeing Jesus and receiving the salvation of their souls (1 Peter 1:6-9).

It is hard not to fill up the gas tank and feel the pessimism come on. It’s difficult not to join in the chorus of complaints and anger on social media. Make the decision today to be a happy warrior, a Christian who knows it’s bad but finds reasons to give thanks and rejoice every day anyway. Joy is going to be a precious commodity, and we of all people should have it in abundance.