The Right Attitude

A connection between associations and attitudes

As the story goes, Casey Stengel, who was a successful manager with the New York Yankees, knew the connection between associations and attitudes. When Billy Martin was a rookie manager, Stengel gave him some sage advice. Martin recalled, “Casey said that there would be fifteen players on your team who will run through a wall for you, five who will hate you, and five who are undecided. When you make out your rooming list, always room your losers together. Never room a good guy with a loser. Those losers who stay together will blame the manager for everything, but it won’t spread if you keep them isolated.”

I think there is a parallel in the church

The church has always had its share of losers. Their numbers are relatively small, but the damage they do can be extensive. I have in mind men like Hymenaeus, Alexander, Phygellus, Hermogenes, Demas, and Diotrephes (1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:10; 3 John 9). Hang out with people like them and their bad influence will rub off. Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

We all know people who find fault with everything in the church but themselves

Isolated they do little damage, but when they are surrounded by the weak, the immature, and others of their own disposition, they can cause great harm to the body of Christ. We need to do two things to mitigate the damage they do.

First, we must commit ourselves to developing a good attitude. Rather than constantly focusing on the negative, we must highlight the positive. It is said that two birds fly over the California desert, the humming bird and the vulture. One sees the beauty and the other the death of the desert, and the explanation is simple. They see different things because they look for different things.

Second, stay away from those who would suck you into their negativism. It really doesn’t take long to learn who wants to contribute to the cause, and who just wants to criticize. I’m not suggesting that we be harsh, unkind, or critical. I’m simply saying that if we are not careful, we will become like them. Let the few who feel the need to constantly criticize stick together. They will do little damage that way, and those who are really committed will be free to serve the Lord effectively.

I’m reminded of the fellow who requested a meeting with the elders. At that meeting the gentleman pointed out a number of things which he felt needed improvement, noted areas of neglect, and offered a series of objections regarding a host of issues. The elders thanked him for meeting with them, and acknowledged that some of his suggestion had real merit. They were simply too busy to address all of them personally. Could they call on him to deal with some of the most important issues raised? His immediate response, “I’m way too busy to get involved, but I am always happy to meet with you in an advisory capacity!” The Lord’s church has enough advisers already. What we need are workers!

Let’s develop the right attitude toward Christ, His word, and His church

We can then be a positive force for good in a world in desperate need of better role models, but it won’t happen unless we develop the mind of Jesus (Philippians 2:1-8).