Have a Christ-like Attitude

When I was in school students were expected to memorize a few lengthy literary passages; the Preamble to the Constitution and an excerpt from Shakespeare’s Hamlet were two of them.

I can remember in middle school memorizing much of Philippians 2, and even to this day this is the line that frequently pops up in my head, “Have this attitude in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus.”

Many of us have often heard our parents, teachers, and coaches speak to our attitude. The importance of a good attitude and not having a bad attitude. Remember, when our parents would say something like, “you’re about to get an attitude adjustment!”?

I recently sat down and pondered some attitudes and dispositions that I’ve seen broadcast on the landscape of social media and in the realm of personal relationships by those around me. And I’ve considered the implications and consequences that have been put on display.

So, what does having the attitude of Jesus look like?

in a world of hate, be love.
in a world of sorrow, be joy.
in a world of anguish, be peace.
in a world of hurry, be patient.
in a world of incivility, be kind.
in a world that’s depraved, be good.
in a world that wavers, be faithful.
in a world that’s abrasive, be gentle.
in a world that’s indulgent, be self-controlled.
in a world of deceit, be truthful.
in a world that’s vengeful, be forgiving.
in a world of arrogance, be humble.
in a world that’s corrupt, be pure.
in a world that’s divisive, be united.

I think it’s easy for us to follow the mainstream moral majority attitude of others, but that’s not the mind of Christ. He was willing to pursue a different attitude, a different way.

I believe that Jesus was God in the flesh. But that same passage goes on to say that he “did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own advantage.”

Rather He humbled Himself and became obedient to the authority of His Heavenly Father; an obedience derived from a genuine attitude of pleasing His Father and accomplishing His will.

The real struggle for many of us stems from this thought, doing whatever would be to ‘our advantage.’ When our attitude shifts to focus on what’s pleasing to God above pleasing to self we will see a difference in our own lives and how we see the world around us.

Many of us could stand for an attitude adjustment; an autocorrection to the way we think, speak, and act in the midst of the circumstances of our lives. These attitudes are being filled up inside of us and they are constantly being shaken up by our circumstances waiting to be poured out for others to see.

A shift in our attitude may take some tremendous work. In that same letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians he said, “whatever is true, right, pure, holy, friendly, and proper” to think on and practice these things (GWT). As we do, our attitudes will slowly begin to change to reflect the mind of Christ.

In all the instances listed above, I certainly don’t get it right every time. But for those of us who call ourselves Christians we should aspire to have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus. May we seek to become a reflection of the One who will one day see every knee bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.