There are elements in our personality that have the power to make us or destroy us. They can cause us to ascend to awesome heights or descent into the depths of miserable experiences. I am referring to our attitudes. Every member of the human race has them, yet we are often unaware of the determining influence they have on the formation or deformation of our character.
What is an attitude?
An attitude is a mental position one takes in relation to someone or something. The mental position can be related to prayers, trials, genders, people, individuals, or to any constituent related to our existence and experience. Attitudes can be good or bad, constructive or destructive, edifying or discouraging. On the aesthetic scale they range from beautiful to repellent, and although they might affect people around us, they mostly bear on our own development and identity.
Another thing about attitudes is that they never become part of us accidently. We are not born with them. They are the result of a progressive creation we have willfully fed. They might have been prompted by society or perhaps triggered by a third party, but ultimately they are the product of our individuality.
The importance of attitudes
As much as the formation of attitudes depends on us, once they are accepted they have the power to form or deform our very character. In other words, the one who fashioned them will eventually be fashioned by them. And it is so because attitudes are like molds. They have the power to shape us.
We have seen that a specific attitude is always related to a definite object. When the object is not present the attitude might be latent, but the moment the object confronts the person the attitude revives and the person’s actions or reactions become conditioned by it.
We can say that an attitude is a self-imposed programming having the ability to determine how we will respond when confronted by the corresponding object. The only thing that can make us free at this point would be a change of attitude, for as we had the freedom to program ourselves in a certain way we also have the freedom to reformat our mental position. Using the words of the apostle we can say, a mental transformation is possible since our mind can be renewed (Romans 12:2). But this of course demands humility and a certain amount of spiritual perception. To understand the principle let us look at an example.
Our attitude towards tribulation
How do we face tribulations, trials or difficulties? Do we get impatient, frustrated and discouraged, thinking that such ill fortunes should never be part of our life? Do they have the power to demoralize us, leading our soul to the periphery of depression and misery? Do we look at them as enemies attempting to destroy our peace and happiness? Or can we say with the apostle Paul:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3,4)?
Could it be that a large percentage of evangelical Christians prefers to avoid tribulations altogether, seeing little meaning or value in them? Our attitude towards tribulations will determine the way we are going to face them. Paul and Silas were able to sing in prison because their mind had been renewed (Acts 16:25). It had passed from worldliness to heavenliness. It had experienced a demolition leading to a reconstruction. So they were rejoicing and praising God where many of us would have been depressed and disorientated.
A closer look at Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
To attempt to revise our attitudes while conforming to this world is an undertaking having little chance of success. It is so because the worldview of our society opposes the one God holds. They are not only different; they are in opposition to each other.
For instance, take a person basically selfish and another essentially altruist; imagine their respective attitude toward money. It is not very difficult is it? So there we have it. The mental position a person takes towards any corresponding object will be highly influenced by the inclinations of his heart. And sadly enough the inclination can be quite negative at times. Hence the emergent attitude can get pretty ugly. Once too many ugly attitudes become part of us it is difficult to be beautiful to those who truly know us.
Attitudes in relation to knowledge
We have seen the attitude Paul had towards tribulations was related to knowledge. He knew tribulation was producing perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3,4). He was not talking about mere Christian information, nor was he referring to theological data. He was making reference to what he knew by revelation.
Nothing can take the place of this sort of knowledge. One might have graduated from three bible schools and yet curse any tribulation coming his way. And it is so because human information bears little on our conduct. In contrast, the knowledge coming from above exposes and challenges. It calls into question some of our attitudes and provokes revisions. On the long term it has the power to beautify our character.
Writing to the Colossians Paul says: ” I now rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). Here we see the attitude the apostle had towards suffering. He rejoiced in it.
Peter had the same approach. In his first epistle he writes:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12,13).
These men had fellowship with the One whose attitudes express beauty and perfection. They were, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and were thus transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is glory and exalted beauty.
If you think this post can help somebody else you can share it with the options presented bellow.
