Hermeneutics

Perhaps the truest rationale for de-cynicizing a cynic, however, is this last one. Plain and simple, cynicism is justineffective. Sitting around complaining and listing social or religious flaws doesn’t right the world any faster than the existing models.

Even though it’s tempting to connect suffering or flaws with lack of hope, then, we might be wise to remember the apostle Paul actually said it was the opposite. He said we could rejoice in our sufferings because they help us persevere, which builds character and hope. Suffering, then, doesn’t cancel out hope. Suffering helps make hope.

Ever a struggling cynic, I find it hard—in conclusion—not to finally turn cynicism on myself. As Dietrich Bonhoefferfamously said, the disillusioned person is “first an accuser of his brethren, then an accuser of God, and finally the despairing accuser of himself.”