An Cailin Ciuin and how we view people

Last night myself and the family went to see An Cailin Ciuin ('The Quiet Girl').  It is a beautiful film.  

I was struck by one piece of dialogue.  A man says to the quiet girl, concerning his wife, 'she hopes for the best in people.  Hoping not to be let down.  She often is.'

So, how should we view people?

We are not to be gullible.  As Christians we know about the sinful nature.  We know about it because we see it in ourselves.  We have often let people down.

We are not be cynical.  We also know that in His kindness God restrains evil in people, and enables even those who do not love Him love others.  One tragedy about hell is that this gracious restraint will be removed and human hostility will prevail.  But in this world God enables people to show great kindness, and so we should hope for the best in people.

We are to look in grace.  In grace, God does not treat us as our sins deserve but according to His loving-kindness.  Not only does God restrain the sinful nature in those who love Him, He has also given us the person of the Holy Spirit.  We still sin, but we are being changed.  I am not good at stopping hurts from getting under my skin, but I find that if I find someone difficult it helps to look for where God might be at work in their lives.  Look graciously!  

One day, after this life, the Christian will not be able to sin any more.  Heaven is a place of perfect love.  The church can only mirror heaven as it seeks to demonstrate some of that love now.

So, the Christian is not to be gullible about people, but neither are we to be cynical.  We are to hope for the best in people and especially to look for evidence of of the Holy Spirit's work in those who love Jesus.