LCG: Being Positive, Despite Bad News

Here is the latest commentary from the Living Church of God:

Commentary: Positively!

By Roger Meyer (guest columnist) | Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Scan the news headlines or talk to your friends and neighbors, and there is little doubt that the world is filled with troubles. How can we be positive in such a negative environment? Can we find reasons to be optimistic when modern life is filled with so many troubles?

The news headlines are about international conflicts, wars, earthquakes, fires, failing debt-ridden economies, drug and gang violence, crime, murders, rapes, disease, starvation, poverty and moral decline. People struggle with bad finances, unemployment, health difficulties and family problems. These situations can put us into a negative and pessimistic frame of mind.

Scientific studies show that being positive and optimistic can lower a person’s risk for having a stroke. Other studies show that being positive is a secret to aging successfully, is effective treatment for those suffering depression and helps us cope with failures.

Many of us have heard admonitions from parents, teachers and coaches encouraging us to have a positive attitude. One well-known motivational speaker and author of success books said, “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

But how can we maintain a positive attitude when there is so much that is negative?

God’s Word offers good advice. One step we can take is to quit holding on to the past. The Apostle Paul said, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Forgetting the past and working toward positive goals are two important principles for positive thinking. Practicing these will not leave us much time for being negative.

Another principle is found in Matthew 6. Worrying is negative thinking, and it accomplishes nothing. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on…. Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing?… Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25-34).

With such clear instructions, it might be said that excessive worrying is denying the power of Christ to uphold, which in its own way is a kind of sin (Matthew 10:33). On the other hand, researchers have found that those who believe in God worry less. So, believe in God and stop worrying!

Similar advice is found in Philippians 4:6-8: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Being thankful and praying to the Almighty God will help you stay positive.

Believing in the God of the Bible and His promises is the best way to stay positive. To learn more, read our booklet, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. You can read it online, download it, or order your own printed copy absolutely free of charge.

It is not always easy being positive with bad world/political/economic news, but the GOSPEL IS THE GOOD NEWS! Not only does Jesus love all and gave His life for all, He will return and fix the problems on this earth. Yet, the world will have more sorrows and the Great Tribulation first.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2019 or 202x?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
True vs. False Conversion Are you really converted or willing to be? What is true conversion? What is false conversion? What are the dangers of false conversion? Evangelist Roderick Meredith provides information on those important questions.