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Whenever I go to church, it seems like the pastor is always talking about sin, Satan, and hell. Why does it seem like Christianity is so negative?
The Christian is not pessimistic but realistic
As Christians, we sometimes get the reputation of being the Eeyores of this world, just moping around and trying to bring everyone else down with us. I get it; no one wants to be around an Eeyore.
However, in the words of one Lutheran church father, C. F. W. Walther, “The Christian is an optimist.” Well, which is it?
The apostle Paul said, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). We all want to think positively, but notice that Paul says those thoughts need to be true. Is one’s thinking positive or only wishful thinking?
The philosophy of “Ignore a problem and it will go away” or “It’s only a problem if you treat it like one” sounds comical until the sad reality dawns on you that so many people approach their spiritual needs with little more than false hopes. It is the spiritual equivalent of thinking that if you just ignore your cancer, it cannot hurt you. No, you have to treat the cancer if you hope to improve! The same is true spiritually. We need to realize the problem of sin and the punishment it brings: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
The Holy Spirit’s strange work
It may be unpleasant to hear about your sin, but it’s necessary. Theologians call this the Holy Spirit’s “strange work.” It’s strange because the Holy Spirit’s ultimate goal is not to simply diagnose the problem but to treat it.
In order to treat the cancer of sin, you have to realize that you have it. A doctor didn’t become a doctor to deliver bad news. However, he needs to tell you the bad news so that he can start treating the problem. The Holy Spirit needs to convict me and everyone else of their sin so that he can give us the remedy: Jesus, our Savior.
The Holy Spirit’s proper work
Biblical preachers will always let the gospel dominate. They will preach Jesus as the answer to all that the law has done to convict me of sin.
In a nutshell, this is what Christianity is all about: I am a sinner who is going to die, but I have a Savior named Jesus who died on a cross to pay for my sins and rose from the dead so that I will one day rise too. In other words, my cancer is cured. Now I wake up every day as a forgiven child of God. I know that my Jesus is with me. He loves me, guides all things for my good, blesses my life beyond what I can possibly imagine, and is preparing a mansion for me in heaven. He has freed me to give him glory in my life and to thank him in countless ways for his goodness to me. I have all I need in him. How can anyone call that negative? It’s positive, and it’s true!
If you find yourself thinking negatively, go back to that Philippians passage. Think about whatever is true, noble (literally, worthy of praise), right, pure, lovely, admirable. Who is the epitome of all those things? Jesus. Think of him, and you will be positive.
Have a question? Submit it here.
Author: David Scharf
Volume 108, Number 5
Issue: May 2021
- Q&A: What would Jesus think about all the different Christian denominations?
- Q&A: Are there times when it is okay to lie?
- Q&A: What advice does the Bible have for single people?
- Q&A: How do I know I am elected by God?
- Q&A: Why is Pontius Pilate immortalized in our creeds?
- Q&A: How does remembering my baptism help with the guilt I carry?
- Q&A: Do parts of the Bible teach works righteousness?
- Q&A: How can I overcome my struggle with lust and pornography?
- Q&A: How should I help my child struggling with same-sex attraction?
- Q&A: Should Christians pray to saints?
- Q&A: Is anger sinful?
- Q&A: How can parents encourage adult children who wander from the faith?
- Q&A: Does the doxology belong in the Lord’s Prayer?
- Q&A: Is God fair?
- Q&A: When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” what are we praying for?
- Q&A: How can I better manage what God has given me this year so that I glorify him?
- Q&A: What are ways to glorify God besides singing in church?
- Q&A: I have no special gifts, and I mess up all the time. Does God really need me?
- Q&A: How do I overcome the feeling that my life has no purpose and I don’t make a difference?
- Q&A: My friend died and was not a professing Christian. What do I say to the family?
- Q&A: How can my mother and I forgive my father for being unfaithful and causing my parents to divorce?
- Q&A: Why were demon possession, gifts of healing, and gifts of tongues more prevalent in biblical times?
- Q&A: Is Christianity the only religion that gives the certainty of heaven?
- Q&A: If people go to hell, isn’t it their fault because God gave them free will and they rejected him?
- Q&A: Why are the 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension important for the disciples and for us?
- Q&A: Can you explain Jesus’ words to the wailing women he met on his way to be crucified?
- Q&A: What if spouses don’t “love” each other anymore?
- Q&A: Is it wrong to have a cross with Jesus’ body on it?
- Q&A: Is our time of grace really unchangeable?
- Q&A: I know that we are saved by grace apart from works, but how can it be that easy?
- Q&A: Are there degrees of glory in heaven as a reward for good works?
- Q&A: Do Lutherans take the Bible literally and teach millennialism?
- Q&A: Are there different interpretations of the Bible?
- Q&A: How can we be sure the Bible includes what God originally gave us?
- Q&A: Why does it seem like Christianity is so negative?
- Q&A: How can I explain how Jesus’ resurrection is possible and if the Bible is reliable?
- Q&A: Is it okay to live together if we are planning to get married?
- Q&A: How is the Bible God’s Word?
- Q&A: Were we “created to make a difference”?
- Q&A: Am I being judgmental if I point out someone’s sin?
- Q&A: Do I need to read the Bible to have a relationship with God?
- Q&A: Can a Christian vote for a political candidate who supports abortion?
- Q&A: Does God really care?
- Q&A: Does it really matter how God made the world?
- Q&A: Does God send people to hell?
- Q&A: Is death natural?
- Q&A: How can I forgive and forget?
- Q&A: Does God help those who help themselves?
- Q&A: How can we say that the Old Testament God is the same as the New Testament God?
- Q&A: Is Jesus the only way to get to heaven?
- Q&A: Doesn’t God want me to be happy?
- Light for our path: Does God hate us?
- Light for our path: What kind of comfort can you give someone when a loved one commits suicide?
- Light for our path: What does a submissive wife in a Christian marriage look like?
- Light for our path: Is it a sin to want to die from a terminal illness?
- Light for our path: What advice can you give about applauding in church?
- Light for our path: Can you please explain Matthew 5:20?
- Light for our path: What is karma?
- Light for our path: Can the devil personally be tempting me and a lot of other people at exactly the same time?
- Light for our path: Does the word Easter refer to Ishtar, the Babylonian fertility goddess?
- Light for our path: What role does emotion play in contrition?
- Light for our path: What does the white stone in Revelation 2:17 mean?
- Light for our path: Is the cross symbol now anti-Christian?
- Light for our path: Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?
