Are faith and optimism synonyms?
Can a Christian be a pessimist?
I certainly hope so. Or I’ve got a lot more to be worried about than my general disposition.
Maybe the more important question is whether faith and optimism are synonymous. Do these two words mean the same thing?
Methinks not. I believe they are related, but not the same. I have two lines of reasoning on this:
Observation
- I know plenty of optimists who have no belief in Christ whatsoever. Their lens on life is upbeat and sunny, but based on no Christian eschatological or theological view.
- I know plenty of ardent followers of Christ who generally see things in a negative light. The Bible speaks to discouragement, even amongst believers. And perhaps this is one reason God saw fit to send the Holy Spirit to comfort us in His absence?
- At the point of conversion to faith, I observe no broad, correlating change in “outlook bias” from pessimistic to optimistic across the general population.
Terminology
Secular language will cause these words “hope” and “faith” and “optimism” to appear synonymous, because they are often used interchangeably. Using Biblical terminology, however, these are distinct (but related) concepts. The word “optimism” doesn’t appear in the Bible, so we’ll have to use a secular definition.
- Faith (belief), as a Christian, is in someone, not something. Precisely, in God. (Genesis 15:6, Abram believed in the Lord and it was credited to him as righteousness.) Biblical usage predominantly expresses faith as belief that God exists, was present in bodily form in Jesus Christ, and can be relied upon.
- Hope, as used in Hebrews 11 for example, is defined as being the confident, expectant waiting for salvation. Hope in Biblical language is a certainty because of the work of Christ. We don’t “wish” for our salvation, we are assured of it. Jesus isn’t just our “best bet” for getting into heaven. He is the very gate by which we enter.
- According to Dictionary.com, optimism is:
a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome; the belief that good ultimately
predominates over evil in the world; the belief that goodness pervades reality; the doctrine that the existing world is the best of all possible worlds.
Each of these variants in the definition pertains specifically the natural bias in interpreting circumstances. (And doesn’t that last one just pain you to think on??)
If pessimism is the opposite of optimism (or at least at the opposite end of a spectrum), and is the tendency to assume the least favorable outcome will occur, then it, too pertains to circumstances. Faith, again, is about the person of God. While I have a natural inclination to assume the worst outcome in circumstances (or people), I have no less belief in God’s existence, presence and sovereignty — even in the midst of those circumstances.
- He is present in the worst of situations (Psalm 23:4, Deuteronomy 31:8, Matthew 28:20).
- He redeems our hardest experiences and uses them for His glory (Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 1:4, Jeremiah 29:11).
Whether I assume the best will occur, or the worst, I believe that He is there. My faith doesn’t falter. Because my faith is in who He is, not what I anticipate may happen. And sometimes He permits the worst to happen, as He did on the cross.
Faith trusts that God will bring the best out of the worst circumstances.
So, why try to “learn optimism”? Should an optimist try to “learn pessimism”? More on that tomorrow…
This post is part of a 31 day series entitled “Think on these things: Learning optimism.” For a full catalog of all the posts, visit the first page in the series by clicking here.
The optimism/faith/hope conversation reminds me of the joy vs. happiness discussion – where only one is based on circumstances. Hebrews 12:2 and James 1:2 come to mind… so I am inclined to agree that these terms are not synonymous. Really appreciating this series, Kirsten!
I’m so glad you’re connecting with it, Jenni. It’s doing me a lot of good to explore. Confronting my thinking on all aspects of it. Thanks for referencing the Hebrews and James passages… they’re great. James, especially, illustrates that optimism has everything to do with circumstances, while faith and joy exist in spite of them, because of God’s ability to work in and through them. Thanks, thanks, thanks!
The optimism/faith/hope conversation reminds me of the joy vs. happiness discussion – where only one is based on circumstances. Hebrews 12:2 and James 1:2 come to mind… so I am inclined to agree that these terms are not synonymous. Really appreciating this series, Kirsten!
I’m so glad you’re connecting with it, Jenni. It’s doing me a lot of good to explore. Confronting my thinking on all aspects of it. Thanks for referencing the Hebrews and James passages… they’re great. James, especially, illustrates that optimism has everything to do with circumstances, while faith and joy exist in spite of them, because of God’s ability to work in and through them. Thanks, thanks, thanks!
The optimism/faith/hope conversation reminds me of the joy vs. happiness discussion – where only one is based on circumstances. Hebrews 12:2 and James 1:2 come to mind… so I am inclined to agree that these terms are not synonymous. Really appreciating this series, Kirsten!
I’m so glad you’re connecting with it, Jenni. It’s doing me a lot of good to explore. Confronting my thinking on all aspects of it. Thanks for referencing the Hebrews and James passages… they’re great. James, especially, illustrates that optimism has everything to do with circumstances, while faith and joy exist in spite of them, because of God’s ability to work in and through them. Thanks, thanks, thanks!
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