Attitude is not something we’re born with, like personality. That is, attitude is not “baked in,” as we say. Another way of saying this is attitude is not genetic. It doesn’t belong to that list of characteristics in your DNA like eye color, hair color, height, etc.
Instead, we develop our attitude as we go through life.
Attitude is a crucial part of life – and is of almost immeasurable importance – because your attitude: 1) shapes how you perceive experience and, ultimately, reality; 2) influences how you respond to challenges; and 3) determines the spirit in which you live out your faith.
Both Scripture and the science of cognitive psychology confirm that attitude determines our orientation to life as well as shapes our behavior.
Little wonder that Charles Swindoll titled his popular book on attitude:
Life Is 10% What Happens to You and 90% How You React
I want to come back to why I titled this two-part series Attitude Rectitude…
Rectitude is defined as morally correct behavior or thinking. The word comes from the Latin rectus meaning right or straight. It might surprise you to know that the word is actually connected to the word righteousness.
What is my point? Just this. Attitude is no small matter. We speak of someone having a “good” attitude or a “bad” attitude, but we would be far more accurate in saying they have a “right” or “wrong” attitude.
There is, you see, a moral quality to this matter of attitude.
And for the Christian, there is a theological significance as well.
Let’s look into this a little more closely.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Regardless of what comes our way, the believer is to face it with an outlook that is so confident of God’s sovereign oversight in our life that we can, in faith, be thankful for that circumstance. Why? Because we trust Romans 8:28.
Now, I ask you, how likely do you think it is that we will be thankful in any given situation – truly thankful from deep within our heart and with a full spirit – if we have a bad attitude about that circumstance?
If you say not at all, you’re right.
Because attitude may not be everything, but it’s awfully, awfully important.
So, it’s vital we understand that...
Attitude is not genetic. It’s not personality. It is a choice.
And for the Christian, a right attitude involves the issue of obedience as well.
Til next time,
