A cynic is someone who, when given a silver platter, sees only tarnish. His perspective is skewed because he’s already made up his mind about how to look at life, and, unfortunately, some of the most cynical people can be Christians.<\/p>\n
Christians should be the most optimistic people in the world! I’m not talking Pollyanna happy, but simply having a more positive outlook. Consider frustration as an invitation to think more clearly and act more definitely. After all, if we don’t show the world a hopeful outlook, who will?<\/p>\n
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary<\/em>” (Galatians 1:9).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A cynic is someone who, when given a silver platter, sees only tarnish. His perspective is skewed because he’s already made up his mind about how to look at life, and, unfortunately, some of the most cynical people can be Christians. Christians should be the most optimistic people in the world! I’m not talking Pollyanna…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1813,1703],"class_list":["post-87647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-optimism","tag-pessimism"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29878,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-you-remember\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":0},"title":"Do You Remember?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, December 2002 Here is a quiz for you: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. Name\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90150,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/gutter-mouth\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":1},"title":"Gutter Mouth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jonnie Hutchison Where I grew up in Missouri, a person whose language included various curse words would be called a \"gutter mouth.\" Cursing, at least in public, was frowned upon by most people back then. It was characteristic of the undesirable and the rebellious in society. Today it is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/dirty-gutter-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63243,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-i-believe-we-should-still-marry-and-bring-children-into-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":2},"title":"Why I Believe We Should Still Marry and Bring Children into the World","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Is having children too risky? Seeing that the majority will end up lost, I have seen a number of faithful Christians lose their children to the world. Answer: That is a pretty defeatist way of viewing things. When was it not risky? I've seen people, who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9922,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wasnt-judas-problem-betrayal-and-not-suicide\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":3},"title":"Wasn’t Judas’ problem betrayal and not suicide?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I don't think Judas' suicide was the great issue. The main issue was the betrayal of Jesus. Jesus even said the disciples that it would have been better than the one that betrays the Son of Man not have been born. It just seems Judas will be judged for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69960,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-lost-a-good-friend-for-my-views-on-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":4},"title":"I lost a good friend for my views on homosexuality","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Please say a prayer for me. I've lost a good friend for my views on the sins of homosexuality. Pray that God will comfort me and give me His love and compassion to comfort me. Answer: I find it interesting that those who claim to want tolerance for their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":16843,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-two-people-commit-fornication-should-they-be-forced-to-marry\/","url_meta":{"origin":87647,"position":5},"title":"If two people commit fornication, should they be forced to marry?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was wondering if we today should apply this law in the Old Testament. \"And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 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