I know way too many cynical Christians. They’ve been burned by someone in the church, so they guard their hearts from anyone. They look for the negative in any situation. They assume everyone wants to screw them over.
These cynical people are also the first to point out the problems in the world. They see the error in every televangelist. They know what’s wrong with every church in town. And they seem to hold the answers to the world’s problems. If only someone would listen to them.
But that’s the thing: cynical people will never change the world. Cynicism will never bring about the positive change they wish to see in the world. Instead, their cynicism carries them slowly and miserably to the grave. Nothing will change for them.
It’s easy to be cynical. It doesn’t take much work to criticize and condemn everyone around you. But it takes bravery to love those who hurt you. It takes courage to look for the good in people. It takes cojones to forgive someone.
And the people who choose this path, rather than cynicism, are the only hope for the world. They’re the ones who get into the situation and let their love change things for the good. Instead of standing on the outside pointing fingers, they get into the fight and make things happen.
It isn’t easy to change your world. It isn’t easy to keep cynicism out of your life.
But nobody remembers the cynical people. Nobody sees them as an example they want to aspire to. Those negative bloggers… Their cynical thoughts and clever criticisms will go with them to the grave. They won’t live long.
Legacy requires love. It requires action. It requires forgiveness.
I want to leave a legacy that makes a mark on the world. I won’t let cynicism keep me from impacting others. How about you?
