Cynicism: A Biblical Perspective and Hope

Have you ever met someone who is simply negative about everything? They assume the worst of every situation and never expect much good from anything. This is cynicism in action, and it is much more prevalent today than many would like to believe. To be honest, there are many times when cynicism gets the best of me. Many of the people I talk to also notice some cynicism in their lives once it gets pointed out. Thus, we are all susceptible to the pull of cynicism, and current cultural trends do not aid us.

Turn on the TV for five minutes, and the news or the latest Netflix documentary is beating cynicism into our heads and hearts. We look at social media, and most of us are searching for the gossipy posts with the best comment sections. All of this fosters cynicism in our lives. In this article, I will explore more deeply what cynicism is from a Biblical perspective, how it affects our lives, and how we can have hope for change.

Understanding Cynicism

What is Cynicism

Cynicism comprises a collection of thoughts that are often negative in tone, fostering distrust and skepticism while assuming the worst about people and their motives. Here’s an example: When I am at work and receive a text message from my boss saying, “Can you call real quick?” my mind automatically conjures a negative scenario: they want something from me, they messed something up, I feel aggravated, and I consider my time to be valuable. Consequently, I wait as long as possible before calling, which only aggravates me further as I have been stewing on it. To my surprise, I end up receiving a promotion! Obviously, this example concludes happily, and not every situation does, but I hope you understand the point about the cynicism involved: the negative attitudes and assumptions.

Cynicism represents a type of negative and unhealthy discernment, where we conclude about a situation- always a negative outcome- without ever possessing all the facts. In Scripture, we are instructed to be a discerning people, testing the spirits to ascertain their truthfulness in light of what Scripture has already revealed to us (1 Thess. 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1). It is healthy to maintain a level of skepticism when things appear somewhat unbelievable or untrue; these are matters we must measure against the Scriptures to determine whether they withstand scrutiny. However, a healthy skepticism differs from making assumptions. Skepticism encourages us to ask questions for clarity and understanding. Assumptions lead us to prematurely cast a final verdict on a situation that may not be true at all. Cynicism is an unhealthy combination of both.  

Is Cynicism a Sin?

Cynicism itself is not a word in the Bible; it is a term that started out describing a group of people (the Cynics) and their negative views on life in general. The best view we get from Scripture is to look at the “scoffer” and “scorners,” found mostly in Proverbs, as they hold key characteristics in common. The scoffer/scorner is seen as a radical, defiant, free-thinker who is often skeptical of wisdom, arrogant, resistant, and often holds a very negative attitude (Prov. 1:22; 9:8, 7; 13:1; 21:11). So, cynicism itself, much like scoffing and scorning, is not in itself a sin but the ongoing effects of cynicism can be sinful, more on this in a moment. But, I do appreciate how the Psalmist calls these types of attitudes out from the outset of the Psalms, Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

How Does Cynicism Cause Us to Stumble?

If cynicism isn’t sinful, then we shouldn’t worry about it, right? Wrong. Cynicism largely contributes to being unloving, unforgiving, and downright unbearable toward others, which is sinful (John 13:34; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). It is also a highly contagious outlook on life, fostering despair and hopelessness, leading others into the same cynicism. This is why the Psalmist in Psalm 1:1 urges us to avoid such influences! While cynicism itself is not inherently sinful, when it becomes a way of life and dominates our attitudes and actions, it can turn very sinful and lead others into sin as well. However, there is hope for overcoming cynicism and its sinful behaviors.

Hope for the Cynic

Steps for Overcoming Cynicism

In every struggle we face in life, God has not left us to figure out the remedies on our own but has given us His words as a guide and ultimately provided His Son as our redeemer. Because of this, we possess hope for the future and the strength to overcome the struggles we face today. Below are four practical steps to help when cynicism begins to rear its ugly head in our lives.

Step 1 is to uncover the root. Proverbs 18:13 says, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” We must understand the situation before passing judgment on it, and we achieve this by uncovering the facts and grasping what is happening. If we do not take the time to comprehend the situation, we tend to make hasty decisions, often leading to our own shame and folly.

Step 2 is to change our thinking. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” If we are constantly focusing on the bad and negative in this world, we will continue to focus on the bad and negative in this world. Therefore, we must change our thinking and begin to focus on what is true and good, as Paul instructs us in Philippians. We achieve this by tasting and seeing that God is good, applying Scripture to our daily lives, and remembering the promises of God and all that he has done, past and present (Psalm 34:8).

Step 3 involves taking practical steps forward. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, Paul urges believers to support one another, offer encouragement, provide admonishment when necessary, and practice patience with everyone. We cannot fulfill this calling effectively if we continuously maintain a negative outlook and assume the worst about others. In this same passage, Paul also mentions the need for prayer in all this: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Prayer is the engine, and thankfulness is the fuel that powers our rejoicing in all of God’s goodness.

Step 4 is to model hope. Just as cynicism can be a contagious perspective on life, so too can hope and gladness. Negativity and cynicism are not fruits of the Spirit; instead, qualities such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” are, and these are what we should embody as Christians. Our hearts and minds must be renewed daily through Scriptures, prayer, and trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness (Romans 12:2). As a result, we spread joy through faithfulness, encouraging those around us to undergo transformation as well. 

Conclusion

In short, while cynicism is not inherently sinful, if left unchecked, it can lead us into sinfulness. Therefore, cynicism is a significant issue that we all need to address and learn to better understand its implications. For a deeper dive into cynicism and some of the underlying issues, refer to this blog post by John Piper at Desiring God, “The Contagious Sin of Cynicism: Nine Causes and Their Cures.” If you feel that cynicism is creeping in, begin at step 1, work through to step 4, and commit the situation to God in prayer. If you feel like cynicism is taking over your life actions and attitudes, then reach out to your pastors/elders or a Biblical counselor for help.