9 Reasons Why Believers Have Bad Attitudes and How to Be More Positive
- Liz Lampkin Contributing Writer
- Updated Apr 13, 2023
"Your attitude determines your altitude" is an abridged version of an old saying that motivates people to carry themselves pleasantly. A person's attitude essentially defines who they are. It determines the way you view yourself, others, and ideas. It shapes reactions and behaviors. It can decide who will be around you. A person's attitude can ultimately shape their life. Believers in Christ are born again. They are new creatures in God's creation who should model their lives after Christ. So, why is it that so many believers have such nasty dispositions? Many walk around as if they are not children of God and often behave as if God has not been good to them. Don't get me wrong; everyone is entitled to have a bad day and express how they feel. No one is perfect. However, many Christians tend to display consistent negative attitudes towards people inside and outside of the church. They won't speak to others, are often critical of ministry work and leaders, are territorial of the ministry work they're involved in or refuse to work in ministry at all. In fact, how many of them carry themselves makes it difficult to believe they are born-again Christians. The Bible provides guidance on how attitudes can and should be adjusted for every situation. So there should be no excuse why people of God walk around with sullen dispositions. And while believers are still human, and have the right to express their feelings in a manner they deem appropriate, there is still a way they should conduct themselves. So the question still remains why do believers have such bad attitudes? Here are some reasons why.
1. They don't begin their day with a grateful heart and spirit.
People of God have become so accustomed to God's grace that they tend to lack gratefulness. If more believers would look back at what God has done, pay attention to what He's doing in the present, and look ahead for future blessings, maybe their attitudes would shift.
2. Upsetting circumstances.
Everyone experiences unexpected and upsetting events in their lives that can shift their feelings and reactions. While this is normal human behavior, there are ways to control reactions and emotions. One way is to let people know that you're having a bad day or a rough time, another way is to keep to yourself for a while until you believe your emotions are calmer, and last but not least, pray about your situation and attitude. Again, everyone has trying times, but we must remember that God is always there to help, and so are others if you allow them to help and if a bad disposition doesn't chase people away.
3. Pride in yourself.
Being proud of yourself and being prideful are two different things. Being proud of yourself means being pleased with something you've done. You may have set a particular goal for yourself and worked hard to achieve it in any aspect of your life, but remaining humble about it and then moving forward to the next thing. Having pride in yourself means that you are conceited or self-centered. Many believers often forget that God is the One who provides, guides, and makes a way out of no way. He is also the One who prepares, opens doors, protects, and gives grace daily. Some believers may forget that God is the One who is in control of everything and think they do things on their own.
4. Selfish or hardened heart.
A selfish-hearted person is one who thinks of themselves first all the time. This can happen because their hearts are hardened due to past hurt. Be it from the church, work, or personal circumstances, people become selfish or hard-heartened, negatively affecting their attitudes.
5. Haven't released past circumstances, or things haven't turned out how they expected.
Life and the unexpected things that come along with it can weigh in on a person's heart, mind, and spirit. In turn, this directly affects a person's attitude.
6. Suffering from church hurt.
Believers get hurt in the church by other hurt or egotistical believers. This can directly affect their attitude toward the church and other believers.
Related Articles:
How to Heal When You've Been Hurt by the Church
What to Do When You Are Hurt by Another Believer
How to Find Biblical Joy When the Church Disappoints You
7. The company they keep.
Birds of a feather flock together, and you are the company you keep. If believers are amongst groups that display negative attitudes, they may adapt to their thoughts and ways.
8. Comparison.
They often compare their lifestyle to other believers and non-believers. Comparing oneself to others can distort a person's confidence; if you aren't confident in yourself, it can shift your attitude negatively.
9. Emotionally charged rather than spirit-led.
Being emotionally charged brings about negative thoughts and actions.
Why it's Important to Have a Good Attitude
As a believer, you never know who you may be surrounded by. Believers and non-believers alike. You never know who may need or be encouraged, and you may be the only representative of the Bible, a Christian, or a good person. You may be the reason someone decides to join a church or leave one. Again, this is not to say that believers aren't allowed to have a bad day or a shift in their attitudes, but it is to say that people, not just believers, should be mindful of the way they address others and their circumstances because you never know who's watching.
It's also important to have a good attitude for yourself. A positive attitude will change your outlook on life and breed better results.
A positive attitude will make your presence more pleasant. No one wants to be around someone with a negative attitude. Having a positive attitude will alter the company you keep, which in turn will change your life.
How to Fix a Bad Attitude
If you're wondering how you can fix a bad attitude, here are a few ways how:
-Before you begin your day, start with prayer and meditation. Ask God to lead and guide your heart, mind, body, spirit, and actions.
-Take some time each day to give thanks for what you have, for what God has done, and for what He will do.
-Read God's Holy Word every day and seek guidance on how to handle every situation.
-Use setbacks and unexpected circumstances to learn, become better, not bitter, and give you more patience.
-Seek out and hang with those who have positive attitudes.
-Change the way you look at certain situations. Everyone has a choice on how they can view things. Is this to say that you shouldn't look at the reality of things? No, but it is to say that you have a choice on how you internalize every situation and how you choose to handle it.
-Figure out what needs to be changed within you. Self-reflection is always necessary for growth.
As you go through each day, begin with a grateful heart and a positive attitude. We all know that life can throw curve balls at us from time to time, but as long as you have God with you, there is nothing you can't face and overcome.
