Have You Been Saved...From Cynicism?

The viral ice bucket challenge is starting to wane. I’m wondering if that’s only because there are few people left who have not either been doused with ice water or have donated to ALS research.And then there have been the cynics. While I think it’s been one of the most positive things that happened in our country this summer, the blogosphere was also filled with detractors who found all kinds of reasons to criticize either those who participated, or the mechanisms of ALS research and its various organizations. People who participated in the challenge were accused of grandstanding or jumping on a bandwagon. But I’m a lot more leery of those who are eager to judge another’s motives, than I am of other people’s motives. I love these insightful words of Jean Sibelius, “Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic."Celebrities who participated were criticized for not giving enough, since they had more to give. Environmentalists criticized the craze for wasting water. Snopes had to refute the claim that most of the funds given for ALS research actually went to administration costs. Christians criticized other Christians for not being equally excited about the Gospel. There was a legitimate concern regarding the use of embryonic stem cells used in research, though some ALS research organizations use only adult stem cells, for moral reasons.But it seemed that the more people participated, celebrities, politicians, young and old, entire families, more and more critics surfaced. While so many were excited about doing something good, selfless, a bit uncomfortable, out of concern for others less fortunate, why is it that the cynics and critics have the driving need to find fault? Especially in the Christian community! How cynical must you be to find fault with such a successful fundraising idea that raised over $100 million for research to conquer a horrible and debilitating disease.A friend of mine commented, “We’ve become a society of negaholics.” It’s like we are addicted to negativity. We have to find fault with something that others view as good.Does that describe you?Jesus was anything but a negaholic. He was the most winsome person who ever lived. When others saw instability and impetuousness in Peter, Jesus gave him the name, “Rock.” He gave hope to a hopeless people.While Jesus said some harsh things, he was never negative for the sake of being negative. He was negative like a surgeon cutting away a cancer. Yet, too many of us are like the mom, after her child spent hours cleaning her room and had everything seemingly in place, found the one or two things she’d missed like dust on the top shelf.I’m convinced that kind of cynicism is part of our sin nature. Jesus died to save us from our sin––and that includes cynicism. Once we embrace his transformational forgiveness, his life in us ought to produce a new kind of outlook––one of hope and optimism. And one that dispenses grace and breathes life in others.How would others describe you? One that is quick to find fault? Or one that is eager to give hope?