Beyond Cynicism

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! Psalm 1:1

The Jewish prayers begin with this blessing for the person who distances herself or himself from corrupting influences. Along with wicked counsel and sinful paths, the psalmist warns against the company of scoffers. In other words, we ought to be careful not to join in with those who mock, deride, and ridicule constantly, finding fault and tearing down because they view everything with contempt. Consider how a scornful attitude contrasts with love.

[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Mocking everything and hoping all things are clearly at odds, but does Paul imply that love is naive and gullible? I do not believe this is the case because we do not have to be either naive or derisive. Love that hopes all things can still be worldly wise without ridiculing everything. In fact, the psalmist is saying we ought to be leery of those who are scoffers!

Proper skepticism does not mock everything but knows not to trust everything either. Learning to distrust the untrustworthy is actually a sign of wisdom. Being astute enough to not believe everything nor everyone does not mean one has to treat all things with contempt.

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. John 2:24

Because Jesus did not trust the motives of others we could say he was cynical about human tendencies. Cynicism is the belief that people often act from self-interest rather than from higher ideals. We would have to be ignorant of ourselves and naive about others not to realize this to be true. But to be cynical, that is, aware of human frailties, does not necessitate being scornful and derisive.

Though Jesus knew better than to trust anyone other than his Father, his life was also an expression of divine love. He could be suspicious of human motives while hoping all things in his Father. Jesus knew what his Father was doing and could do even within those he knew would easily disappoint and fail. He did not ridicule or mock people for their weaknesses.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31-32

Jesus understood Peter’s weaknesses but he also knew the faith that his Father could grow in Peter nonetheless. A naive person would not believe Peter could deny Jesus, a cynic knows that Peter likely will, but beyond cynicism there is the hope that trusts in what God can do despite human weakness.

If we are deeply cynical, then we have honestly faced the disappointments of life. We cannot return, nor should we, to simple naive hope. However, we do not want to become scornful and scoffers. Mature love moves beyond cynicism to a kind of skeptical hope which incorporates a wise distrust of human strength within a confidence in our transformation by grace. The loving do not scoff and ridicule, but trust that grace will succeed in healing the deep flaws which are so evident within us all.