Attitudes play an important role in our daily lives. In respect to this, we should be aware of the fact that there are dangerous attitudes that we as Christians might manifest in our lives. The reason for the danger with these attitudes is they constitute sin as they are manifested in our lives. We are aware of the physical sins that one might commit that would cause a person to be lost such as adultery, murder, stealing, etc.   We also need to be aware that we might sin by possessing an attitude which is contrary to the spirit of being a Christ-like person.

As we consider this matter we easily note that some people have dangerous attitudes toward themselves. Attitudes such as egoism which would cause the one who possesses it to be unable to repeat the words of Paul recorded in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This attitude is in direct contradiction to such passages as Romans 12:3, 4 and Galatians 6:3. Another dangerous attitude toward oneself is self-righteousness. There is nothing wrong in one recognizing he is righteous, but when that “righteousness” is thought to be brought on by self rather than by God, a problem arises. We must understand that it is through Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) that we become righteous. When we do what he tells us to do, our righteousness is found in compliance with his commands, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” – 1 John 3:7. We also see in the lives of some the dangerous attitude of selfishness. Many have never learned the principle of it being “more blessed to give than to receive” as seen in Acts 20:35. How sad it is that so many are all about themselves. Such is so blatantly in contradiction to the scriptures such as Philippians 2:4, 21.

Going beyond this we see dangerous attitudes displayed toward our enemies by rather than loving our enemies, as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:44, we possess an attitude of hatred toward them. Such is dangerous since doing so causes us to fail in being a child of God – Matthew 5:45. It is not possible to be Christ-like without having the attitude as seen in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” We, also, may show forth an attitude which indicates an unwillingness to go the “second mile” in life with those who are in need of such. It is when we develop the attitude in life that says there is no reason we should do so we contradict the will of God for his disciples – Matthew 5:41.

As sad as it really is, we quite often find brethren who harbor bad and dangerous attitudes toward some of their brethren. In the lives of some bad attitudes such as anger and malice are seen. Of course, anger is not always bad (Ephesians 4:26), but when it leads to malice or hatred of one’s brethren then the one who possesses such an attitude has crossed over the boundary. We can easily see the necessity of putting aside anger and malice – Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 2:1. Occasionally one develops an attitude of constantly finding fault with everything others do. Let’s face it, we all have faults. But we desperately need to take care of the “beam” in our own eyes before we attempt to remove the “speck” from others – Matthew 7:3-5.

No doubt the most dangerous attitudes that people have involve God in such things as limiting him to man’s power and potentials. Consider the words of Isaiah 55:8, 9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Others continue to show forth the attitude of indifference toward God such as seen in Revelation 3:14-19.

In life, let us exercise caution to have the “mind (attitude) of Christ” – 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5.

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