A trend I’ve noticed in modern culture is the obsession with seeing everyone through cynical eyes. There is a fixation on the phrase “yeah but” that is applied whenever someone is praised for their accomplishments, whatever they may be. Make any comment about someone, in any sort of a praiseworthy fashion, and watch how many are quick to say “yeah but, he also…” or “yeah but, didn’t they once…”
No one is allowed to be praised. Everyone must be a villain.
I was reading an article about Teddy Roosevelt, one of the great conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts among the Presidents in American history. There is much to praise TR for, not just for his love of nature but, in this article, specifically it was diplomatic skill that merited lauding. If you don’t know, TR basically averted a World War and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts resolving the conflict between Russia and Japan. But in the comments, all anyone could say was “yeah but, what about the Philippines?” Do I excuse the man’s faults? No, but that doesn’t mean his accomplishments must be swept under the rug.
It doesn’t stop with TR. Gandhi promoted non-violent peace for India. “Yeah but, he was mean to his wife.” Winston Churchill led England to victory in World War 2. “Yeah but, he was oppressive to coal miners.”
On it goes.
There’s a nasty, exhausting, cynical streak running through our world today, so it’s a major distinguishing characteristic, therefore, to belong to Christ: We are called out of such cynicism. We are commanded to favor grace over judgment. We’re to give the benefit of the doubt. We’re to exhaust our supply of mercy, because that’s what our Father in Heaven does for us.
What a blessing to Adam and Eve that God did not say “yeah but, what about the forbidden fruit…” when they finished their long lives of faithfulness to the Lord. What a blessing to David that God did not say “yeah but, what about Bathsheba…” when his days as a King were done and he shuffled off this mortal coil. What a blessing to Peter that God did not say “yeah but, what about the denial three times…” when the Apostle’s life was taken in the service to his King.
What a blessing to us, that God will not hold our forgiven past against us. When the Lord says to us “enter in,” it will be the Devil who accuses us and tries to say “yeah but, what about all those sins they committed…” It will be then that the Lord will say “yeah but, what about the cross and the blood that was shed to wash them all away?”
May we never be so cynical that we become like the serpent-tongued accuser, who always ever fixates on the mistakes of others and fails to see the good that can be done through Christ.
~ Matthew