What Does The Bible Say About Negative People?
Dealing with negative people can be draining. Their pessimism and criticism can undermine your confidence and steal your joy. You may find yourself wondering, what does the Bible say about negative people? How should we handle them?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible warns about the dangers of negativity and offers advice for dealing with negative people in a godly manner.
In this comprehensive article, we will explore several biblical principles and passages that provide wisdom for handling negative people and overcoming their influence.
The Danger of Negativity
Spreading like a disease
Negativity can spread through a community or group like an illness. Just as catching a cold from someone close by, being around constant pessimism and criticism can negatively impact our attitudes. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, exposure to a negative coworker for just a few hours a day can reduce an individual’s job satisfaction by about two-thirds and increase their intention to quit by 50%.
This contagious nature of negativity has sometimes been called “emotional contagion.” It takes only one or two chronically negative people to impact an entire team or organization. According to the Gallup consulting organization, teams with engaged, positive workers are 21% more productive and have 28% less internal theft than those with negative or actively disengaged members.
Just like how one bad apple can spoil the bunch, one negative team member’s outlook can bring down the morale, engagement, and performance of everyone around them.
Harmful to the soul
In addition to impacting those around us, negativity and pessimism are also harmful to our own mental and even physical health. According to Mayo Clinic research, chronic pessimists are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and premature death.
Other studies have related negativity with higher stress levels, insomnia, and weakened immune systems.
Spiritually speaking, a negative mindset is contrary to principles in the Bible that instruct believers to think on truths that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy, and excellent (Philippians 4:8).
Dwelling on complaints, criticism, and pessimism clouds our thinking and prevents us from seeing the grace God extends in every situation. Negativity and bitterness can quench the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts.
Contagious nature of negativity
The contagious spread of negativity and its harmful impacts illustrate why the Bible instructs us to separate from pervasively negative people when possible (Proverbs 22:24-25, 2 Timothy 3:1-5). If a professing Christian continually tears down and criticizes others, Scripture says we should avoid foolish debates and arguments (Titus 3:9-11).
Of course, believers should also examine their own hearts and repent of any negativity and pessimism, asking God to “renew a right spirit” within them (Psalm 51:10). We must cling to the gospel’s message of grace, meditate on God’s word, and “put on” spiritual virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Colossians 3:12-14).
As we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), our outlook becomes increasingly positive and hopeful.
How to Identify Negative People
Complainers and faultfinders
Negative people often spend a lot of time voicing complaints and criticisms. According to research from the University of Melbourne (1), habitual complainers experience more mental fog, negativity bias, and self-criticism.
You can identify complainers by their tendency to always find fault with situations, other people, and themselves. Rather than looking for solutions, they seem to vent and verbalize problems repeatedly. Chronic complaining tends to create a cynical and dissatisfied view of life.
Those who discourage and tear down
Another sign of a negative person is someone who constantly shoots down ideas and gives discouraging feedback. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology (2) found that people who have a discouraging communication style negatively impact team performance and cohesion.
Rather than motivating and providing constructive criticism, these negative influencers tend to shut down optimism and possibilities. They may say things like “that will never work” without considering creative solutions. This tear-down approach drains emotional energy from the people around them.
People who resist change and growth
Additionally, negative individuals often remain rigid in their perspectives and resist personal growth and change. Researchers have found close-mindedness is associated with suspicion, distrust, and cynicism (3).
On the other hand, open-minded people demonstrate curiosity, creativity, and cognitive flexibility. When confronted with new ideas, negative people cling to the familiar and reject differing viewpoints. They feel threatened by change and avoid self-development opportunities.
This inflexibility and stubbornness hinder their ability to see positives and potential.
Biblical Advice for Dealing with Negative People
Be slow to judge
We all have our bad days when negativity can get the better of us. As Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, we should be “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” So be slow to judge negative people and try to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Their behavior may be a symptom of something deeper going on in their lives.
Respond with wisdom and patience
It’s easy to become irritated by negativity, but Proverbs 15:1 tells us that a gentle response diffuses anger. So try to remain calm and patient when dealing with negative people. Don’t allow yourself to become dragged into an argument.
Respond thoughtfully and steer the conversation in a more positive direction. As 1 Peter 3:15 suggests, always be prepared to give a reason for the hope you have.
Limit your time with them
Spending prolonged time around negative people can start to drain your energy and affect your own mood and mindset. The Bible warns about the corrupting influence of bad company in 1 Corinthians 15:33. So it’s wise to limit your time around persistently negative people where possible.
Interact with them in small doses and make sure to spend plenty of time with positive and uplifting people too.
Pray for their hearts to change
While we should avoid fueling negativity, Scripture also tells us not to repay evil with evil (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Instead, try to counter it with love and prayer. Ask God to soften the hearts of negative people you know. Pray that He will free them from whatever is making them unhappy or hopeless.
With God’s help they can find freedom from their negativity.
Overcoming the Influence of Negative People
Guard your own heart
The Bible teaches us that we must be careful about what we allow into our hearts and minds. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” If we fill our hearts with negativity, complaining, and bitterness, it will overflow into our attitudes, speech, and actions.
But if we fill our hearts with God’s truth and promises, it will help us stay positive and avoid adopting the negative mindsets of those around us.
Surround yourself with positive people
While we can’t always choose who we have to interact with, we can decide who our close friends are. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 talks about the value of having positive, encouraging friends: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” Consider spending less time with constantly negative people and more time with friends who build you up and help you stay hopeful.
Remember Christ’s example
Jesus faced tremendous criticism and negativity, yet responded with grace and compassion. When the Pharisees hurled insults, He didn’t retaliate (1 Peter 2:23). When facing the cross, He prayed for the forgiveness of those crucifying Him (Luke 23:34).
When we remember Christ’s example, it helps us respond to negativity with patience, love, and prayers for those causing hurt. We can ask God to give us His heart for difficult people rather than harboring resentment.
Focus on truth found in Scripture
God’s Word is filled with promises of his faithfulness, the hope we have in Christ, and the peace He wants to give us. Setting our minds on those truths helps counteract the anxiety, hopelessness, and turmoil negative people may stir up.
Passages like Philippians 4:8 instruct us: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure.” Regularly reading the Bible renews our perspective and helps guard our minds. We can also commit to memory key verses about God’s goodness to recall when negative voices around us threaten to distract us from what is true.
Conclusion
Dealing with negative people and overcoming their influence requires wisdom, patience, and faith. By implementing biblical principles, we can limit the damage caused by negativity and point people toward hope found in Christ.
Although difficult people will inevitably cross our paths, we can choose to face them in a Christ-like manner and let the light of the gospel shine through us.