Cynicism Is Not a Fruit of the Spirit
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
Titus 1:15
Cynicism is a jaded negativity which sees selfishness, ulterior motives, and evil intentions in everyone and everything. Cynicism is the opposite of a childlike spirit: a childlike spirit is an attitude of neediness, dependence, trust, and receptiveness to God’s great grace and his loving kindness (Matt. 18:1-1-5) Cynicism creates a dead spirit; a man or woman with no life in them.
Cynicism loses hope in God and anticipation in prayer, all joy in life is lost as we fail to believe that God can be good even in a wicked and fallen world. This ingrained negativity develops scar tissue which kills emotional engagement with people and God. The lack of life, joy, and emotion makes life wearisome depriving us of all energy. Cynicism never believes anything, trusts no one, avoids disappointment, evades intimacy, runs from commitment, and flees any cause (1 Sam. 17:29, Titus 1:15).
Prayer is an antidote to cynicism. Prayer believes in God, hopes in answers, asks of God boldly, trusts his ways, deepens spiritual understanding, and encourages intimacy.
Cynicism contrasts with hope for he who expects stands on God’s promises, believes God’s word, trusts the Holy Spirit, looks to Christ, leads to boldness, dares to take action, expects answered prayer, and exalts the goodness of God (Rom. 15:13).
Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It’s unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don’t have to try.
Peggy Noonan in Good Housekeeping, conservative writer and former speech writer to President Ronald Reagan