Cynicism is the attitude that all people are motivated by selfishness, believing that all people are driven by self-interest. This makes it hard to trust other people because you're always expecting them to do something in their interest at your expense.

Different celebrities, politicians, government regimes and other influential billionaires have contributed to the cynic behavior we experience today. These leaders have extreme beliefs or lifestyles and pass the same to their followers.

Those who believe this philosophy tend to be very skeptical. They want evidence before accepting someone or something. In faith, this translates into an attitude of doubting first, then maybe believing if enough evidence is given.

But what if the evidence is in front of you? What if you've been given all the evidence you need, but you don't see it? What if your doubt is hindering you from seeing?

Cynics might respond that they've been duped before, and they're not going to let it happen again. But cynicism is a form of pride. It's a form of saying, "I know better than God or anyone else." 

Let’s jump into the reasons cynic philosophy may be hurting your faith, which ties into every aspect of life.

1.Cynic philosophy throws out the good with the bad

If everything is wrong, nothing is right — not even good things like your family, friends, job and community. This can cause you to lose appreciation for everything — even the good. It forces you to throw away what's suitable along with what's wrong.

2. Cynicism makes you see God as capricious and whimsical

To the cynic, there’s not really a divine being or plan at work behind the scenes. To them, everything happens by chance. The most bitter among them think that God is just another powerful being looking after his interests and manipulating events to get what he wants.

3. It destroys hope

The cynic says nothing will change, so why bother trying? Why even dream? Hope is the lifeblood of faith. The cynic philosophy robs us of hope, and without hope, we don't have the drive or energy to accomplish anything. It's hard to take action when you don't believe anything can change.

4. Cynicism often leads to anger and bitterness

You are constantly looking for people who have been or will be harmed by something, and you almost always find them. You become a cynic because you have been hurt deeply or personally wronged by someone, making you suspicious and angry toward other people so that they don't hurt you again. This anger becomes bitterness if we allow it to grow within us, becoming all-consuming until we destroy our faith and relational connections.

5. Cynic philosophy teaches that man's purpose is self-satisfaction

When we embrace the cynic philosophy, we believe that life is simply the satisfaction of our appetites and desires. There's nothing more than that — no transcendent meaning to our existence, no purpose beyond ourselves. No God who has predestined mighty works for us to accomplish.

We do whatever makes us feel good without regard for other people's feelings or needs. This makes us narcissists who believe our pleasure and desires are the only things that matter in the world. How can faith live in that kind of environment?

Living this way leads to loneliness and emptiness because we have no sense of community or relationships. Our faith teaches us this isn't true: "... and love your neighbor as you do yourself." (Matthew 19:19 MSG).

6. Cynicism prejudges people's actions

That can even include God. You think He is always out to get you or teach you a lesson. You would have no faith in His desired goodness toward you.

Cynic philosophy assumes the worst about others' motives. It assumes that everyone is primarily motivated by selfishness, greed and lust. Imagine if you approached every person believing that these base motivations drove them. You would never take anyone at face value or give them the benefit of the doubt. Your relationships would be shallow, mistrustful and calloused.

Is cynic philosophy worth it? Cynicism isn't only hurting our faith; it's also hurting us relationally and emotionally. By clinging to cynicism, we limit ourselves from seeing the beauty of Christ and His church found in the simple events in daily life. And it makes us less likely to recognize the many ways God speaks with us through others, even when those other people are not Christians.

Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey

At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. You can also find out what our community’s drive and passion are all about by checking out some of the past sermons we’ve posted on our website. 

Do you want to grow in your faith, or are you curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our podcast series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.