Certain phrases pop up related to how we “believe” the people we encounter. “I don’t trust him as far and I could throw him” is one that echoes in my mind from years ago. As we engage with others, we need to exercise a certain amount of caution—we don’t need to believe everything we hear without first thinking it through. Even Jesus affirms being cautious—in Matthew 10, as he sent the twelve disciples out to share the message of the Kingdom of God, he says this to them after giving them their instructions: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Or as another person said in an unrelated context (Goldie Hawn’s character Sunny Davis in the 1984 movie “Protocol”), “Do you know what my dad says? He says that if you let a guy sell you a diamond ring for only ten cents, the chances are you own a diamond ring not worth a dime.” We do need to exercise some judgment; naivete and gullibility are not what Jesus has in mind in encouraging us to assume positive intent from others.
It is harder and harder to do that anymore—duplicity has been, and continues to be, exposed as people abuse positions of authority, as public servants exploit positions of public service for personal gain while ignoring the ways the public could be served. People bribe others to get what they want; campaign donations bring what the donors want with influence reinforced by money in a manner that might as well be legalized bribery. Powerful people extract sexual favors from those they have power over; mega-church pastors manipulate their positions and enrich themselves; priests abuse children and the church covers it up; laws are broken by those entrusted to enforce the law. It is increasingly difficult to know who to trust; it is increasingly challenging to assume positive intent when negative intent keeps being discovered. I don’t know that this is any different from how it’s always been, but it seems like it.
But just because others don’t operate with positive intent doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t. How debilitating is it to go through life operating every moment with a presenting attitude of distrust? How much of a strain does it put on our mood to immediately not believe anyone is sincere or is capable of being truthful? How much joy could we possibly experience by constantly being suspicious of the motives of others—and how could that not turn us in to people who ourselves don’t operate as people who can be trusted, whose motives are insincere?
Jesus calls us to be people who can be trusted. Jesus also affirms in John 8:31-32 “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Truth is freeing, and operating truthfully is how we are to live.
So in the community of followers of Jesus, if each of us commits to living truthfully, we ought to begin with the premise that the other person in the community of followers of Jesus is also living truthfully. Therefore I don’t assume that the other is trying to manipulate me, just as I know I am not trying to manipulate them. It is much more affirming to live truthfully, to be someone others can trust, and to trust that the other person is living truthfully and is also trustworthy.
A mark of who we are as a follower of Jesus is to “Assume Positive Intent”.
GOSPEL Matthew 7:1-5
1‘ Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.
NEW TESTAMENT 1 Peter 4:8-11
8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.