Are we as Christians TOO positive?

[Guest]

At this point I am sitting here and all I want to do is cry and cry and cry BUT that would do no one any good and even though I am going through my own " valley of the shadow " at the moment I have ample proof of how great our God is and how He will bring me though this time if I am holding on to Him so... positive you bet.... GOD IS THE MOST POSITIVE LOVE IN THE WORLD AND THE NEXT

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Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Isaiah 66:5

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

[nebula]

At this point I am sitting here and all I want to do is cry and cry and cry BUT that would do no one any good and even though I am going through my own " valley of the shadow " at the moment I have ample proof of how great our God is and how He will bring me though this time if I am holding on to Him so... positive you bet.... GOD IS THE MOST POSITIVE LOVE IN THE WORLD AND THE NEXT

(((Hugs)))

[anitarose]

Ok, I gotta add my five cents to this topic....

First off, I suffer from clinical depression. The definition of that is that it is a chemical imbalance in a variety of things in my brain which causes depression. I am supposed to be on medication for it. Right now I have *4* of my meds left...that's pills, folks....and I am not supposed to just get off it "cold turkey"....and as of right now I have NO health insurance that will put me back on this med that I need so badly...

That being said...I have a Christian counselor that I love dearly that tells me constantly that I need to learn to be positive because "out of the issues of the heart the mouth speaks"...however, I am learning that I can't just say what comes off the top of my head...The Jewish sages have this saying that whatever issues from your mouth goes out into eternity...and what you say will come toward you...

I believe in speaking reality. I believe very very strongly in saying how I feel at the time, and I have done so for many many years, to the detriment of my mental state and health. Now I have to learn something different, and I have to learn it quickly: I have to learn how to speak POSITIVE. Yes, Christians for the most part can be "Pollyannas", meaning that they have no concept of evil in the world and they believe that if you just speak positive words, nothing can happen to you. WRONG-O to the max....I think and believe in speaking by faith, BUT you have to be able to recognize reality when you see it.

Recently one of my housemates went to apply for a job she was totally unqualified for. It was with the school district, and she decided that she was going to go waltz onto the campus of the elementary school she was going to work for and "claim it for Jesus". I told her that she needs to be careful because the staff and security people don't let just anyone walk onto the campus, and she immediately went off on me saying that she was "walking in FAITH, not FEAR". Also, she started not only rebuking me but rebuked the WORDS I said because she believed that she would received whatever God was going to give her. Guess what? She didn't get the job, and almost got arrested for not pre-arranging a visit.

Yes, there is such a thing as being positive. I don't doubt that for a minute. However, a good healthy dose of reality with that positive thinking helps a whole lot. You are not going to go walking into a lion's den thinking God is going to protect you unless He Himself TOLD you to walk there and that He WOULD protect you.

Anyway, enough of my ranting. Now back to your prerecorded show....

a.

[nebula]

That's good, Anita!

I don't get the "speak positive" thing when it's a lie.

Right now I'm struggling just to discipline myself to say, "Bless the Lord," and pray in tongues rather than speak what my emotions are feeling. Maybe one day I'll be able to graduate to praying in English words of faith and hope, but the words just aren't there. So I'm best leaving it for my spirit to do the talking.

[anitarose]

That's good, Anita!

I don't get the "speak positive" thing when it's a lie.

Right now I'm struggling just to discipline myself to say, "Bless the Lord," and pray in tongues rather than speak what my emotions are feeling. Maybe one day I'll be able to graduate to praying in English words of faith and hope, but the words just aren't there. So I'm best leaving it for my spirit to do the talking.

You know, I'm going to attempt to make a funny here, but maybe if I "wax that eloquently" coming off of meds, wonder what I'll be like if I'm completely off 'em?

[winsomebulldog]

Maybe I'm not "positive" enough, because I find "preachers" who spew nothing but "God is love & He wants you all to be happy, healthy, successful, and rich" to be disgusting. Sure, their gospel of prosperity draws a crowd. But if they never talk about what sin is & what the consequences are for it, or preach about the importance of being obedient to God or of the cruel, brutal death Christ died and WHY He died that way, then just how many in that crowd they've drawn will ever actually be saved? Certainly Christians ought to be happy because they not only know their Maker & Savior but can trust that God has a perfect plan for their lives even when their life seems to be falling apart around them. But Christianity isn't all hearts & flowers. Ever read Foxe's Book of Martyrs? Not a lot of happiness, health, worldly success or wealth for those Christians. Anyone who wants to teach the "happiness" without the reality is a false prophet leading the deceived straight to hell. Leave out the blood of Christ & nothing else matters.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

That time is here.

[josephine tomczuk]

Maybe I'm not "positive" enough, because I find "preachers" who spew nothing but "God is love & He wants you all to be happy, healthy, successful, and rich" to be disgusting. Sure, their gospel of prosperity draws a crowd. But if they never talk about what sin is & what the consequences are for it, or preach about the importance of being obedient to God or of the cruel, brutal death Christ died and WHY He died that way, then just how many in that crowd they've drawn will ever actually be saved? Certainly Christians ought to be happy because they not only know their Maker & Savior but can trust that God has a perfect plan for their lives even when their life seems to be falling apart around them. But Christianity isn't all hearts & flowers. Ever read Foxe's Book of Martyrs? Not a lot of happiness, health, worldly success or wealth for those Christians. Anyone who wants to teach the "happiness" without the reality is a false prophet leading the deceived straight to hell. Leave out the blood of Christ & nothing else matters.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3

That time is here.

too true.

[Fraught]

Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . walking through, not flying over. Don't we have something to learn from the bad times? For myself, I just have to trust God that my situation is for a reason - either a) I have to learn something that will further God's Kingdom or b) those God loves, He chastises, or c) I'm incapable of making the right decisions and I had better rely on God to help me. Hate to admit it, but for me it's usually c).

[josephine tomczuk]

Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . walking through, not flying over. Don't we have something to learn from the bad times? For myself, I just have to trust God that my situation is for a reason - either a) I have to learn something that will further God's Kingdom or b) those God loves, He chastises, or c) I'm incapable of making the right decisions and I had better rely on God to help me. Hate to admit it, but for me it's usually c).

i would say, for myself, if not for all: sometimes a and sometimes b but always c. bless you:)

[ladypeartree]

Being " positive " is NOT expecting to be happy all the time and to live in an ivory tower but to praise God even when those around you think you should be yelling at Him or bewailing what has happened / is happening in your life.

This week has been ( I think ) the second worse week of my life so far so do I sit and rant about how unfair it is? Do I cry and walk around " breaking my heart " ?? NO I praise God and sing His praises ... yes I cry ... I cry out to God in fear/ dispair / horror / desperation BUT I PRAISE HIM AND HAVE THAT INNER KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS GOOD AND THAT HE LOVES ME AND WHATEVERE THE REASON IF HE BRINGS ME TO IT HE WILL SEE ME THROUGH IT THAT to me is being positive NOT telling fairy tales about how we should always feel nothing but love and fuzzy warmness