{"id":40259,"date":"2024-03-04T01:24:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T08:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/?p=40259"},"modified":"2024-03-04T15:28:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T22:28:32","slug":"the-dangers-of-cynicism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boundless.org\/faith\/the-dangers-of-cynicism\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dangers of Cynicism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Click here<\/a> to listen to this article.<\/p>\n

As a leadership coach, I have the privilege of working with leaders from many different industries, backgrounds, and experiences. These individuals share deeply and honestly with me about their inner world.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one ministry leader who for years has battled cynicism in his own life. There was a two-year stretch where he fought certain internal soundtracks daily: Nobody will change<\/em>. What you\u2019re doing won\u2019t make any difference. You\u2019re wasting your time because ultimately it doesn\u2019t matter. <\/em><\/p>\n

Nobody knew this leader was struggling. Externally, everything seemed fine. But no one knew the truth: that he was weighed down by a cynical spirit \u2014 and it was suffocating.<\/p>\n

That leader was me.<\/p>\n

What does “cynical” mean?<\/h4>\n

Cynicism is everywhere; our culture is saturated with it. It is the spirit of our age. It sounds like: \u201cAh, that\u2019s cute.\u201d \u201cLike that will make a difference.\u201d \u201cOh, really? We\u2019ll see how that turns out.\u201d \u201cHmmm, must be nice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But what is cynicism, really? It\u2019s when we mistrust or distrust the intentions of other people. It\u2019s the belief that everyone is in it for their own self-interest, there\u2019s always an ulterior motive, and therefore no one can be trusted. It says: I know best. I am knowledgeable enough to know what\u2019s really going on, and you do not.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ultimately, cynicism is an unhealthy response to disappointed expectations. The late comedian George Carlin quipped, \u201cInside every cynical person there is a disappointed idealist.\u201d Cynicism usually involves three feelings: hopelessness, helplessness and bitterness (often expressed as smugness). In it, we have a general sense that \u201cthis is how it\u2019s going to be from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some equate cynicism with skepticism, but dig a little deeper and you\u2019ll find that cynicism and skepticism are not the same thing. Skepticism isn\u2019t so sure; there is an uncertainty, but also an open-mindedness. Cynicism assumes a posture of closed-mindedness.<\/em> It hardens and distances us \u2014 and attempts to elevate ourselves above others.<\/p>\n

The origin of cynicism<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s no secret that we live in an age of distrust. Scandals and corrupt institutions. Misinformation, disinformation, AI-generated images and intentionally false messages created by endless bots. Social media influencers who are just a little too polished and perfect on their feeds. A trust-starved culture is a Petri dish where cynicism grows rapidly. So how did we get here?<\/p>\n

Cynicism means something different today than it originally did. The School of Cynicism began in Greece in the 4th<\/sup> century B.C. by a student of Aristotle. This school of philosophy explored important questions around human nature, customs and shame. In fact, Cynics believed the highest form of wisdom was to live according to nature and not man-made customs or social constructs \u2014 even laws. Self-sufficiency and shamelessness were key virtues.<\/p>\n

The goal was to shock others by questioning the unspoken societal rules that existed. Adherents lived radically ascetic lives, often living in the streets and engaging in public defecation.<\/p>\n

In fact, the word cynic<\/em> means \u201cdog-like\u201d in Greek \u2014 a nod to the animal\u2019s scrappiness and lack of inhibition.<\/p>\n

The most famous Cynic was Diogenes of Sinope, and he was one eccentric dude. Plato once referred to him as \u201cSocrates gone mad.\u201d He found a large clay water jar and lived in it. He would urinate on people he didn\u2019t like and defecate in public, often outside and sometimes inside of theaters, ostensibly to communicate the triviality of most everyday activities. Nicknamed Diogenes the Dog, he considered the moniker a compliment.<\/p>\n

Why are we so cynical?<\/h4>\n

There are countless Diogeneses today. They may not live in clay pots, but they\u2019re there. If I can be a bit direct: Aren\u2019t today\u2019s cynics those who think they have it right when everyone else has it wrong? Who metaphorically urinate and defecate on others and their ideas by assuming the worst in them? Aren\u2019t cynics brutishly dog-like in their mentality and behavior?<\/p>\n

Sadly, this attitude of jaded negativity has infiltrated even Christian circles. It is important to remind ourselves that sarcasm (a sneaky sister to cynicism) is not a fruit of the Spirit<\/a>. In fact, it runs counter to it. I think it\u2019s fair to say that most if not all of us have struggled with being cynical at some point in our lives. But most of us are not aware of just how pernicious it can be to our souls and our relationships.<\/p>\n

What makes cynicism dangerous is it doesn\u2019t pounce or whack you over the head. Instead, it grows slowly and creeps. If gone unchecked, it can overtake us entirely, like kudzu. It\u2019s like a leaky roof; if we ignore it, it will only get worse. Or like a boa constrictor, which almost imperceptibly squeezes you down every time you exhale.<\/p>\n

Cynicism may not destroy you in a few hours or days, but if it goes unaddressed, it will wreck your life. Cynicism kills joy, erodes hope, and robs us of the privilege of giving others the benefit of the doubt. To be cynical is to choose to be distant.<\/p>\n

We see examples of cynicism in Scripture. Satan\u2019s first interaction with humans implanted their minds and hearts with cynical questions about God: \u201cDid God really say that?\u201d (Gen. 3:5). The Israelites grew cynical toward God<\/a> while wandering in the wilderness. Jonah\u2019s temper tantrum<\/a> was laced with cynicism.<\/p>\n

Is cynicism sin? Well, what\u2019s behind cynicism is pride \u2014 and pride is the very thing driving all sin to begin with. It\u2019s that ultimate sense that, \u201cI know better than God, and I will live my own way.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, yes, if cynicism is pride<\/a> and pride is sin, it must be addressed, fought, and rooted out. If not, the toxicity will kill our relationships, our churches, and even our experience of God\u2019s love. Paul Miller in his book \u201cThe Praying Life\u201d writes,<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless we become disciples of Jesus, this present evil age will first deaden and then destroy our prayer lives, not to mention our souls. Our only hope is to follow Jesus as he leads us out of cynicism.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How to stop being cynical<\/h4>\n

How do we let Jesus break our cynical spirits? We choose to live differently, which takes intention on our part. We fight diligently and constantly against apathy, smugness and pride, and instead root our hearts in love, joy and hope.<\/p>\n

But what does this look like practically? There are two concepts Jesus taught that must be held in tension. First, we are to be as innocent as doves and as wise as snakes<\/a>. Hopelessly na\u00efve people who are out of touch are all dove and no serpent. Cynical people are all serpent and no dove. Jesus says we must be both, holding reality and hope together in healthy tension.<\/p>\n

The second is to be child-like, but not childish. One of the most practical ways to overcome cynicism is to think like a child. Jesus said, \u201c\u2026unless you become like a little child you will never enter the kingdom of heaven\u201d (Matt. 18:2-4). Interestingly, I\u2019ve never met a little child who was cynical \u2014 have you? Jesus wants us to grow up into maturity, but He also wants us to have the heart of a child: to wonder, to ask for help, to hope and dream, to experience joy easily and publicly. He wants us to live like children who see the world with fresh eyes, who don\u2019t take ourselves too seriously \u2014 who laugh and cry and have no problem admitting our weaknesses.<\/p>\n

More specifically and practically, I\u2019ve tried to purposefully address the cynicism that remains in me. As such, I\u2019ve entered into some creative spiritual practices. Here are a few I\u2019ve tried and found helpful:<\/p>\n