Pessimism, Optimism, or Realism

Norm Fields

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Pessimism

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Pessimism

pes•si•mism \ˈpe-sə-ˌmi-zəm also ˈpe-zə-\ noun

[French pessimisme, from Latin pessimus worst—more at PEJORATIVE] 1815

1: an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome

2 a: the doctrine that reality is essentially evil

b: the doctrine that evil overbalances happiness in life—pes•si•mist \-mist\ noun

Romans 8:31 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Timothy 3:12–13 NKJV

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Jn. 15:18-19

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

John 15:18–19 NKJV

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:20 NKJV

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

1 Pet. 3:16

1 Peter 3:16–17 NKJV

having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Optimism

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Optimism

op•ti•mism \ˈäp-tə-ˌmi-zəm\ noun

[French optimisme, from Latin optimum, noun, best, from neuter of optimus best; akin to Latin ops power—more at OPULENT] 1759

1: a doctrine that this world is the best possible world

2: an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome—op•ti•mist \-mist\ noun—op•ti•mis•tic \ˌäp-tə-ˈmis-tik\ adjective—op•ti•mis•ti•cal•ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Philipp 4:4

Philippians 4:4 NKJV

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV

Rejoice always,

Realism

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Realism

re•al•ism \ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm\ noun

1817

1: concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary

2 a: a doctrine that universals exist outside the mind specifically: the conception that an abstract term names an independent and unitary reality

b: a theory that objects of sense perception or cognition exist independently of the mind—compare

John 8:31–32 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 NKJV

and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 John 2:3 NKJV

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

We shouldn’t be gloomy pessimists, but neither should we be unrealistic optimists. We need to be real! Sometimes things are tough. Sometimes things are great. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t. We keep on doing what we’re supposed to do because we know the real good and right, and we know the real reward!

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