Found on www.bobrussell.org
A crotchety middle-aged woman was known for griping and complaining about everything, especially her husband, who just couldn’t seem to do anything right. One day, however, she began attending church with a neighbor, and before long, she decided to become a member and was baptized. Everyone rejoiced in her conversion.
But her husband was disappointed that there seemed to be very little change in her disposition. She continued her constant complaining and remained highly critical of him. One day, the despondent man remarked to a close friend, “I don’t mind her being born again, but why did she have to come back as herself?”
The Apostle Paul taught that if we are truly born again, our disposition should be significantly transformed. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit should produce a harvest of positive and pleasant attitudes.
Jesus said, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43-44). A genuine Christian will inevitably produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Of course, it takes time for a tree to bear fruit. It’s a process that can be time-consuming and sometimes painful, as old, ingrained habits need to be pruned away. Even with healthy roots and regular care, a tree doesn’t bear good fruit overnight. However, over time, Christians should naturally develop a more positive and pleasant attitude toward others and life.
There is something seriously wrong with someone who claims to be a follower of Christ but, years later, still exhibits a negative, sour spirit. Either that person is not truly born again, or the Holy Spirit hasn’t gained much control of their life. Jesus Christ should make a significant difference not just in our beliefs and behavior but also in our attitude.
Interestingly, when Paul lists the acts of the sinful nature, many are sins related to our disposition: hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy (see Galatians 5:19-21). According to Paul, these sins of attitude are just as much evidence of carnality as witchcraft, drunkenness, and orgies. Paul warned, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15).
A popular leadership slogan reads, “A good leader gets rid of sad dogs who spread gloom.” Just one “sad dog” can spoil the spirit of a class, disrupt the chemistry of a team, harm the harmony of a workplace, or dampen the joy of an elder’s meeting. Two or three families with negative, critical spirits can put an entire church on edge. The Apostle Paul put it another way: “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough” (Galatians 5:9).
That’s why the New Testament identifies a bad attitude as one of three behavior problems that church leaders must confront. The teaching of false doctrine (2 Timothy 2:17), the committing of immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-7), and the spreading of divisiveness (Titus 3:10) are all treated as spiritual malignancies.
Compare the crotchety middle-aged woman in the first story to another woman, an 85-year-old Christian widow, who was the pride of her church. Her sweet spirit and positive attitude made her beloved by all. One day, after she said something that brought a smile to her circle of friends, someone remarked, “Hazel, you are beautiful!” She quickly retorted with a twinkle in her eye, “Well, I should be—I’ve been a Christian for nearly 80 years!”
This is the spirit all believers should aspire to emulate. The more we mature in Christ, the more the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our lives. True spiritual growth is reflected not only in our actions and beliefs but also in our attitudes.
Bob Russell is retired Senior Minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.