Necessarily Negative
Was Jesus an optimist or a pessimist?
Surely He was an optimist, right? After all… isn’t that the more “desirable” of the two possibilities? Being God and all, He must have been whatever is considered superior. Our American culture values the extravert and the optimist. And there’s a Christian sub-culture that teaches that all Christians should be optimists. (“Because of the hope that we have…”)
But I don’t think so. Rather, I contend that Jesus was the one and only person who could be a dead-center realist. Given His divine nature, He can see perfectly. Without bias. This God-man could see the very best potential of His followers; He called even ill-reputed tax collectors like Matthew to ministry with Him (Matthew 9:9). Conversely, He didn’t try to present a sunny version of Peter’s pending denial of Him (Matthew 26:34), nor of Judas’ imminent betrayal (John 13:26). His divine ability to discern correctly allowed Him to believe not the best, nor the worst about people and circumstances, but what was accurate.
Our human nature is an insufficient medium to express the fullness of God. In a recent conversation with my friend, Chara, she pointed out that this is likely the reason that God created both male and female… that a single gender cannot manifest all the aspects of God. Yet together, the genders (and by corollary, the optimists/pessimists) do reflect the fullness of God. Together. As a Body. So, as I mused at the beginning of this series, I do believe there’s a place for pessimism in the Christian Body. We are a necessary voice in church matters because, when taken together with the voices of our optimistic counterparts, circumstances and people are more likely to be viewed more accurately than if exclusively one expression spoke into that situation. Many of you have commented on previous posts that your optimistic/pessimistic spouses and friends help you achieve a more realistic perspective than you’d have on your own. (You do read the comments, don’t you? I hope you’ll leave one, too!)
[Tweet “Both optimistic and pessimistic natures are necessary in the Body of Christ. Only when both are present do we see correctly. #thinkonthesethings #write31days”]
So, I think I’ve found another tool to help me see things more positively: Ask Jesus how He sees the situation. This may well be what it means to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Him (2 Corinthains 10:5). That simple pause may not instantaneously “right” my perspective, but at least it will stop me long enough to consider that I sit left of center and am not the one and only Realist.
What do you think? Should all Christians be optimists?
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.
I AGREE, Kirsten! You’ll get no pushback on me from this. I volunteer with women battling addictions, and that’s taught me MUCH about realism. Yes, I want to believe the very best and I pray to that end; but, I know the road will be long and hard, and will require much diligence and self-control. It’s a fine line to walk.
Looking forward to more of your series 🙂
I AGREE, Kirsten! You’ll get no pushback on me from this. I volunteer with women battling addictions, and that’s taught me MUCH about realism. Yes, I want to believe the very best and I pray to that end; but, I know the road will be long and hard, and will require much diligence and self-control. It’s a fine line to walk.
Looking forward to more of your series 🙂
Thanks, Susan!
I AGREE, Kirsten! You’ll get no pushback on me from this. I volunteer with women battling addictions, and that’s taught me MUCH about realism. Yes, I want to believe the very best and I pray to that end; but, I know the road will be long and hard, and will require much diligence and self-control. It’s a fine line to walk.
Looking forward to more of your series 🙂
Thanks, Susan!
I am an ever-present pessimist, but saying that, I have to point to 1 Cor 13–Love(God, perfect love)bears all things, believes all things, HOPES all things, ENDURES all things. Love never fails. Interesting that it sandwiches what we consider “negative” experiences to have to act–bear, endure–around what we consider “positive” actions–believes, hopes. In the middle of the difficult and unpleasant, hope carries us through. We need both! I love this post. And your topic. And I am supposed to be cleaning house for a birthday party tomorrow. . . . 🙂 Oh! Romans 5:5 “Hope does not disappoint us because. . . ” Wow. Just wow.
You brought up some excellent points, April. Monday’s post is going to debate the difference between faith and optimism, or some might say hope v. optimism. I hope you’ll check back and contribute to that dialog as well, since you mentioned some great verses! Hope the bday party is great!
I am an ever-present pessimist, but saying that, I have to point to 1 Cor 13–Love(God, perfect love)bears all things, believes all things, HOPES all things, ENDURES all things. Love never fails. Interesting that it sandwiches what we consider “negative” experiences to have to act–bear, endure–around what we consider “positive” actions–believes, hopes. In the middle of the difficult and unpleasant, hope carries us through. We need both! I love this post. And your topic. And I am supposed to be cleaning house for a birthday party tomorrow. . . . 🙂 Oh! Romans 5:5 “Hope does not disappoint us because. . . ” Wow. Just wow.
You brought up some excellent points, April. Monday’s post is going to debate the difference between faith and optimism, or some might say hope v. optimism. I hope you’ll check back and contribute to that dialog as well, since you mentioned some great verses! Hope the bday party is great!
I am an ever-present pessimist, but saying that, I have to point to 1 Cor 13–Love(God, perfect love)bears all things, believes all things, HOPES all things, ENDURES all things. Love never fails. Interesting that it sandwiches what we consider “negative” experiences to have to act–bear, endure–around what we consider “positive” actions–believes, hopes. In the middle of the difficult and unpleasant, hope carries us through. We need both! I love this post. And your topic. And I am supposed to be cleaning house for a birthday party tomorrow. . . . 🙂 Oh! Romans 5:5 “Hope does not disappoint us because. . . ” Wow. Just wow.
You brought up some excellent points, April. Monday’s post is going to debate the difference between faith and optimism, or some might say hope v. optimism. I hope you’ll check back and contribute to that dialog as well, since you mentioned some great verses! Hope the bday party is great!
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