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???When a politician, or an activist, or a television
commentator tells us the land is actually a mess, that
things are getting worse, we perk up and listen, for a
distinct public pessimism is the mark of our era. Good news
we greet with skepticism. Bad news we believe at once.???
The above observation by Stephen
Carter, shared in his timely article ???A Politics of
Gratitude??? (Christianity Today), is cause for concern.
Pessimism is the opposite of faith.
And faith is vital if we are to enjoy
the blessings of God.
Election campaigns often promote
pessimism. In his best-selling book, ???Total Forgiveness,???
R.T. Kendall quotes a former presidential campaign manager
who said, ???Candidates with high negative ratings in the
opinion polls ??“above 35 percent??”lose.??? adding: ???Negative
ratings are far easier to create than positive ones.???
Kendall concludes, in the minds of too many politicians, ???It
is not enough to make yourself look good; you must make your
opponent look bad. And unfortunately it works.??? He then
pleads for graciousness, in all areas of life.
???Graciousness,??? he explains, ???is
withholding certain facts you know to be true, so as to
leave your enemy??™s reputation unscathed. Total forgiveness
sometimes means overlooking what you perceive to be the
truth and not letting on about anything you know that could
damage another person.???
How can we attain this kind of
attitude?
Stephen Carter says we must stop
whining and start counting our blessings.
Thankfulness builds faith and overcomes
pessimism.
Faith is positive. Pessimism is
negative. To build faith I quote the following Bible verses
every morning: ???Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen??? (Hebrews 11:1); ???If
you can believe, all things are possible to him who
believes??? (Mark 9:23).
Pessimism drains churches of courage
and needed energy to fulfill their important roles in their
communities and the world. It robs families of expectation
and adventure, causing husbands and wives to focus on what??™s
wrong in their lives instead of the many opportunities
confronting them every day.
Pessimism is contagious. A businessman
once told me how damaging a few pessimistic comments could
be to a committee evaluating people for different levels of
employment. He said the first evaluation usually proved to
be the most important. If that one was negative there was
little hope for the person being considered.
Politicians, pastors and other
public people should be examples of optimistic faith,
remembering that in cutting down others to gain election or
self promotion they may poison the minds of those who trust
them, creating pessimistic attitudes among their followers
who will then expect little and attempt less.
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, former president
and late chancellor of Wheaton College, said: ???Faith is dead
to doubts, dumb to discouragements, blind to
impossibilities, knows nothing but success. Faith makes the
uplook good, the outlook bright, the inlook favorable and
the future glorious.???
Let??™s stop whining and start shining.
Faith wins and fear loses...every time.
?© 2004 by Roger Campbell
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To read archived stories, click on this link:
http://archives.zinester.com/9516/2004
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Blessings to you today
Bob Johnston
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