When it comes to positivity, a common question relates to whether one can be a positive thinker and not be a “religious” person. Likewise, we have to ask if someone is a person of faith, doesn’t that mean that by default, they should be positive people?
These are profound questions and in reality, a person can be a happy, positive person and not have any religious beliefs at all. However, if a person has faith, particularly Christians, then the answer is yes, by default, they should be enthusiastically positive thinkers. I can’t speak for other faiths (religions), but for the Christian faith, we are very clearly called to be calm, happy, unafraid and full of hope. The word Gospel actually means “good news,” so in every sense of the word, Christians should be positive thinkers.
Positivity and Faith
The Bible contains a great many passages that specifically tells Christians how to think, speak and behave. The Holy book is filled with messages of peace and hope — this wisdom is God telling us not to stress or be worried and that through faith, we should be happy and positive people. What weakens our feeling of happiness and contentment? Anger, hatred, jealousy, pride, arrogance…no one can be a truly happy and positive person if they are weighed down with these dark and toxic emotions.
One profound passage from the Bible, is Colossians 3. This passage contains many of the answers to questions mankind has been asking itself for eons:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore, whatever is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, servant, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
What is this Bible passage telling Christians?
This Bible passage is powerful and yet simple. It’s teaching us how to behave and treat one another and its showing us that the path to happiness, peace and positivity isn’t hard to find:
– “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is…” The message is simple: if you truly believe and are a person of real faith, then seek what is above — in other words, focus on your eternal life and not on the finite life of this earth.
– “Put to death therefore, whatever is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Here, we are guided to forsake the earthly pleasures and distractions, which are toxic and un-Christian. It’s a warning and a guide — these earthly traps will certainly cause us unhappiness and and keep us from living the life of love and light that we are meant to have.
– “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” In order to be happy and to truly live a life of faith, we must trust in Christ and put away all terrible things, such as anger, wrath and malice — in other words, do not be mean-spirited, cruel, vindictive, aggressive or hateful.
– “…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, servant, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” Much of the anger and hatred we see in our world is caused by people who hate others because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender or political ideology — God is being very clear on this…we must not hate someone or attack them because they are “different,” because if you are truly with Christ, you are renewed and “here there is not Greek and Jew…barbarian, servant, free….” What is here in this passage? I imagine its Heaven, but also, earth, for Christians are taught to love others as we love ourselves and if we’re truly faithful, then we know that we are all God’s children.
– “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” This is abundantly clear — Christians must be humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and loving. There is absolutely no room for doubt — if we are true Christians who have genuine faith, then we happily choose to be kind, patient, loving and gentle.
– “And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Christians are meant to be thankful, and filled with joy and hope. We are not meant to be sad or scared. We are not meant to be aggressive and hostile. Christians are not meant to be cold and cruel. Christians are in fact, meant to be good, kind, loving people filled with faith and hope.
As to the question of faith and positivity, true Christians should be positive because through faith, we know that there is no reason to be negative or afraid. Today, we are being torn apart by politics — earthly politics — and it is a cesspool of deceit and despair, so we must be vigilant not to let that raging sea contaminate us.
Democrat, Republican, Black, White, Asian, gay, straight, male, female, Muslim, Christian — it does not matter and God is clearly telling us this: “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, servant, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” Christians are guided to see all of mankind as our earthly brothers and sisters and to be kind, gentle, generous, tolerant and loving. When we let ourselves be caught in the dark traps on this earth, such as malice and anger, we are without doubt, on the wrong path. We see so many angry people today and if they’re not yelling at each other in person, they’re doing it on social media — this is not the way Christians should behave. Happiness and positivity are an integral tenet of Christianity and if we want these things, we simply need to let go of the earthly distractions that are holding us back.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
