According to the dictionary, the
word "attitude" means "an internal position or feeling with regard
to something else." Other words often used as synonyms are:
"disposition, feeling, mood, opinion, sentiment, temper, tone,
perspective, frame of mind, outlook, view, or morale."
Airplane pilots often use the word "attitude" to
describe the horizontal relationship of an airplane to the runway as the
aircraft is positioned for landing. If the airplane’s attitude isn’t aligned
properly, in this case “level to the runway surface”, the plane will make
contact with the ground at the wrong angle which will cause a crash.
In essence, your attitude is your inward disposition toward other
things, such as people or circumstances. As with an airplane, attitude is
applied whenever you must deal with something other than yourself. According to
God’s Word, when you become a Christian, a part of your new creation is the
development of new attitudes —your attitudes about everything and everyone
should become like those of Jesus.
The Bible says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:5). "You were taught, with regard to your
former way of life, to put off the old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the
attitude of your minds." (Ephesians 4:22NIV)
Most of us can easily identify bad attitudes when they are displayed
outwardly in words or actions, that are negative, critical, rebellious, defiant,
impatient, uncooperative, apathic, discouraging, presumptuous, arrogant,
self-centered, rude and such. These are examples of bad attitudes manifested in
behaviors Christians should reject.
However, keep in mind, attitudes are inner dispositions of the
heart and thoughts — they are the hidden intentions which will eventually serve
as the basis for our actions. "For as he
thinks in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7). In reality, no one else really knows the thoughts of
your heart, except you and God. Consequently, attitude is something that only
you and God can work out — a change which must take place inwardly. No doubt
you know someone with a bad attitude and you’ve witnessed the negative outcomes
it produces.
Consider good ‘ol George. He went to church cheerfully as long as
his secular business activities continued to prosper — as long as everything
went well for him. He sang joyfully, gave to the needy, he even tithed and he rarely
missed a service. But when hard times set in on his business, George began to
drop away. He became resentful toward God, even critical of other Christians.
When his world began to crumble, so did his attitude toward others.
The right attitude to have when difficulty comes is to persevere
in faith and draw nearer to God — to fall in deep humility at the feet of
Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that God works all things together for our good
when we love Him, and the testing of our faith is for our benefit. Life’s
troubles will never defeat the person with a right attitude.
Here’s another scenario to illustrate a bad attitude. Call her
Sally. She has been a Christian for only two years and very much a newborn in
Christ. She acts like she loves the Lord and is trying to live as a Christian,
but has been battling sins of the flesh — she occasionally fell to the
temptation of drunkenness. Sally is observed one evening by the preacher of her
church and his family at a restaurant, where they see her slouching at the bar,
obviously intoxicated. The next Sunday after service, the preacher and his wife
took Sally aside privately, and encourage her ever so gently about the sins of
drunkenness. They are not harsh or judgmental. He encouraged her to work on changing of this activity [i.e., repentance] and they
prayed with her.
The outcome? Sally was offended by the preacher’s forthrightness.
She immediately changed churches and would often be heard
"bad-mouthing" that church, the preacher and its leaders. How should
Sally have reacted?
First, she should have had a humble, submissive attitude toward
the preacher’s loving counsel about her behavior of sin which was based totally
on God’s Word (2 Tim. 4:2, 1 Cor. 5:11-13, Gal. 5:19-21, Gal. 6:1). The counsel
provided was “God’s” conveyed by the preacher. She didn’t have the right attitude.
As a general rule, persons who have a bad attitude toward authority figures in
the church will almost always have a problem with God.
According to scripture, your attitude toward life, toward your
personal circumstances, and toward other people should always be like the
Lord’s — as is defined by scripture. Good attitudes are generally demonstrated
in being positive, encouraging, loving, humble, teachable, cooperative, considerate, selfless, loyal, persevering... (Galatians
5:22-23).
Bring your attitudes about every aspect of your life into harmonious
obedience to God’s Word. Apply discipline to your thought life — harmonize your
thoughts to those of Christ’s. Make what you think and how you think about
everything, a spot-on match with our Lord’s thoughts. A good attitude is a
matter of faith, disregarding your feelings, with a determination to embrace
God’s outlook and disposition. 2
Corinthians 10:5 wisely counsels... "casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ..."
Philippians 4:8 says... "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things
are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if
there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things."
Dwell on the things that God’s Word tells us — those good and
virtuous things. If you dwell on the negative things of a carnal world, then
your attitude will reflect the same.
