Webster defines attitude as: 1. A manner of acting,
feeling, or thinking that shows one’s disposition, opinion,
etc..
A. Our attitudes may be socially acceptable and good,
or they may send very strong warnings to every-
one around that we reject what others think or
want.
1. Our attitudes may come as a result of intense
thinking and study, but most often come about
with a minimum of thought or no thought, at
all.
In the case of bad attitudes, others may try to point out our
bad attitude so that we might change any unchristian
behavior.
A. Way too often, however, we have a tendency to
make excuses and justify our bad words or action.
1. It must be understood that even though we
may excuse our unchristian behavior....God
doesn’t overlook these bad habits quite so
easily.
Something else must also be understood.......bad attitudes
are both; habit forming, and infectious.
A. People have a tendency to run in packs...
so-to-speak.
1. One bad attitude might become a dozen bad
attitudes, as people take sides.
Let us take a look at some of the more common bad
attitudes that Christians tend to display.
I. I know so much, and you know so little.....it is really
frustrating to try and work with you on your level.
Romans 12:3-5 - 3As God’s messenger, I give each of
you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves,
measuring your value by how much faith God has given
you. 4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has
a special function, 5so it is with Christ’s body. We are all
parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to
do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to
each other, and each of us needs all the others.
I Cor. 8:2 - 2Anyone who claims to know all the answers
doesn’t really know very much.
A. As with most of the bad attitudes which we will be
looking at.....pride is the root cause.
1. In truth....God really has a very low regard for
your smartness (as the world deems
smartness)
a. If one were really spiritually wise....this
person would be wise and humble
enough to know that we know so very
little.
B. In actuality, it is quite likely that this person is
really spiritually inferior to the very ones that are
so despised and disdained.
1. Superior intelligence, by the world’s standards
only genders pride.....pride which God’s
despises....pride which God will destroy.
** Sometimes this attitude is expressed in words....but as
with most of the attitudes that I will cite here....it is
usually internalized.
1. Whether spoken or thought.....it still is a destroyer.
II. What a low-life kind of person.....this person is
regarded as lower than the slime that’s found in the
gutter.
James 2:1-4 - 1My dear brothers and sisters, how can
you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ if you favor some people more than others?
2For instance, suppose someone comes into your
meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry,
and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby
clothes. 3If you give special attention and a good seat to the
rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand
over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4doesn’t this
discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?
A. In making this judgment about a fellow human
being, this person feels quite superior. (pride
again?)
1. If circumstances of life were reversed, what
would the judgment be?
a. Would this same person then be calling
out for mercy, understanding, and
compassion?
B. We probably could find something objectionable
about everyone that we wished to look down
upon.
1. Some of this may be real....yet, some may be
perceived because of prejudiced.
a. I believe that God places people in our
lives who may look goofy or act goofy...
people who may have an odor...people
who may have a speach defect....people
with a hare-lip.........God places these
people in our lives to test us and see how
much we really love people that we
perceive to be inferior to us.
ILLUSTRATION: *** The Pink Dress ***
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and
never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot
and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak.
She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. The next
day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be
there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still
with the same sad look in her eyes.
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all
know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl’s dress was grotesquely shaped. I
figured that was the reason
people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow
to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who
is different.
As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare.
As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was
grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I
was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened
with a simple, "Hello"; The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a
long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until
darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so
sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I’m different"; I
immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and
said, "I know." "Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and
innocent"; She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said,
Really?"
"Yes, you’re like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all those people walking
by. " She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she opened the back of her
pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am. I’m your Guardian
Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.
I was speechless-sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought of
someone other than yourself. My job here is done"; I got to my feet and said, "Wait,
why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "Your
the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.
I John 4:20-21 - 20If someone says, “I love God,” but
hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if
we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God,
whom we have not seen? 21And God himself has
commanded that we must love not only him but our
Christian brothers and sisters, too.
III. I am way too busy to help so quit bothering me!!!
Luke 10:30-37 - 30Jesus replied with an illustration: “A
Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him
of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half
dead beside the road.
31“By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he
saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the
road and passed him by. 32A Temple assistant walked over
and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the
other side. 33“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and
when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. 34Kneeling beside
him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and
bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey
and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35The
next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and
told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher
than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I
am here.’
36“Now which of these three would you say was a
neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus
asked.
37The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
A. This parable highlights several good attributes of
the Samaritan:
1. He cared for others....even those whom he
despised.
2. He took the time and expense necessary to
save a stranger.
B. We must understand from Luke 8:14, that nobody
should extend themselves so much that they do
not have time to come to the aid of someone else.
1. We do make the differentiation between
someone’s real needs and perceived needs.
a. True Christians should always be ready
to change their plans in order to be a
conduit of God’s blessings to those in
need.
** It is a sad commentary that some who would claim the
name of Christian, have refused to change their
“important” plans....leaving another in need and want.
IV. Another, all too common attitude....”Boo-hoo.....
nobody cares for me!!!” (:(
A. This attitude comes from a misperception.
1. It stems from self-centerdness.
2. It’s source is satan.
3. The person with this attitude....WANTS
THIS TO BE TRUE.....so that they can
wallow in self pity.
B. More often than not, is the case.....that these
people haven’t even asked for help.
1. They are so self-centered that they think
everyone else should beat a path to their door.
a. This too is pride.....it’s a case of hurt
pride....self-inflicted hurt pride.
2. If one truly needs help....that person must
ask for that help, and not assume that every-
one else should read minds.
a. Only if....and when all of the Christians
refuse to help....when help is properly
asked for ...can one say....NOBODY
WILL HELP ME.
1.) Understand that it is a sin to falsely
accuse your brothers and sisters, in
Christ.
Psalm 101:5 - 5 I will not tolerate people who slander
their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride.
V. Why do all the bad things happen to me....all the time.
A. Several things are glaringly wrong with this
statement and most of it can be laid at the feet of
this word....”all”.
1. Common sense and every other sense tells
us that “all bad things” and “all the time”
are “infinite abstracts”
a. They are a lie of the devil....they are the
whinings of self-pity....these kinds of
statements destroy.
B. We must realize that this attitude is generated in the
heart of one who does not have a spiritual grasp of
the workings of God’s will.
Romans 12:2 - 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs
of this world, but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think. Then you will know what
God wants you to do, and you will know how good and
pleasing and perfect his will really is.
Phil. 2:13 - 13For God is working in you, giving you the
desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
1. Christians MUST UNDERSTAND that when
things happen to us, they happen with the full
knowledge of God.
a. It is not that He especially APPROVES
of what happens, but He will ALLOW it
to happen.
1.) Always is it in His plan to take the
evil that satan has in store for us....
and turn it around....into something
of spiritual good.
Romans 8:26-28 - 26And the Holy Spirit helps us in our
distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for,
nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us
with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27And
the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is
saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony
with God’s own will. 28And we know that God causes
everything to work together for the good of those who
love God and are called according to his purpose for
them.
2. When Christians complain and murmur about
the situation that they may be in, they display
unchristian traits.
a. They are doubting God.....their faith in
God is sinfully lacking.
b. They are rebelling against God’s will
VI. You are such a big pain in the neck.....I just wished
that you would stop bothering me!!!
A. This one is DEFINITELY NOT said out loud...
but is thought about, quite often.
1. Love dictates that we should put up with
others.....that we should have grace in our
hearts.
I Cor. 13:4-7 - 4Love is patient and kind. Love is not
jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. Love does not
demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no
record of when it has been wronged. 6It is never glad about
injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love
never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and
endures through every circumstance.
a. We understand that others may try our
patience.....but understand that God
has placed that person in your life for
a reason.
1.) They may talk too much.
2.) Perhaps they’re always joking
around and you hate that.
3.) They may always be asking...what
you perceive to be “stupid
questions” or they may dig at you
with questions or statements.
4.) Perhaps they’re always coming up
with some “hare-brained” idea.
** We can consider them a “pain-in-the-neck”.......or we
can consider this as something that God has allowed in
our lives which will help, both them, and us.
VII. Time permits me....only one more....This is the
Christian who has hair-triggered “hissy-fits”....temper-
tantrums.....whatever word you wish to use.
Gal. 5:23 - 5Then you must cast this man out of the
church and into Satan’s hands, so that his sinful nature will
be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord
returns.
A. This attitude is so often displayed behind closed
doors, but if provoked....this person can be seen
as a terrible witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
in public.
1. Some feel more righteous because they only
pitch their hissy fits in private....at their mates,
or their children....or their parents.
a. Christians need to understand that the
temper-tantrum....hissy fit....IS A SIN!!!
1.) Whether public or private....this
person has lost “self-control”.
a.) In public....disgrace is brought
to the Church.
b.) In private....our example of
love is destroyed.
CONCLUSION:
All of these examples that were pointed out, fly in the face
of the passage in Gal. 5:22-25.....
Gal. 5:22-26 - 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another.
