Accentuate The Positive
Back in 1944, Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer wrote a song that has been performed by different artists over the years. During the negative times of World War II, this catchy little tune perhaps lifted the hearts and minds of many who faced uncertainty as their loved ones were away, involved in various battles in foreign places. According to Wikipedia, the inspiration for the song was a sermon by a very controversial preacher of that time who called himself many different names over the years, but had finally settled on the moniker “Father Divine”.
This man, whose real name was unknown, was born around 1876, and had faced much difficulty in his early life. Not much is known of his early life, but it is likely that he was the son of freed slaves. We know he lived during the time of the first and second world wars. He also had faced the difficulty of the great depression and the scarcity of many of the necessities of life during these years. He, blasphemously calling himself “Father Divine”, aligned himself with many denominations over the years. He failed to preach the truth of God’s Word, evidenced by various the doctrines to which he held. Also, the message he delivered varied greatly from year to year.
However, this self-appointed religious leader was correct on at least one point. The message of positivity is much needed in the lives of humanity. The refrain of the song provides the title and contributed to the popularity of the song. The chorus goes: “You gotta ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive, E-lim-i-nate the negative, and Latch on to the affirmative. Don’t mess with Mr. In-between. You got to spread joy up to the maximum, Bring gloom down to the minimum. Have faith, or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene.”
Even though the sentiment in the chorus of this catchy song is true, we must be careful to base our positivity in the right thing. Many strive to find the “silver lining” of the cloud in every situation. Sadly, they fail to realize that positivity alone cannot save a soul. One can be positive about the wrong thing or wrong religious beliefs, being deceived, and still be a lost soul.
This is part of the problem with the man-made religions of the world today. While the message of these is largely positive in nature, they fail to proclaim the whole truth of the gospel. At the same time much of the negative, such as the reality of Hell, is ignored. In John 8:31-32, Jesus told Jews who believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. This passage has been preached in many a sermon, yet many fail to seek the whole truth and strive to follow it. Every religious person wants the “positive” which includes eternity in heaven, but according to Christ, only knowing and fully following the truth will make one free. Anything else will not make one free from sin.
Perhaps a breakdown of the theme of the chorus of the aforementioned song will help us see the proper direction to take in life. These also are found in God’s Word. You gotta ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive – Focus on the good and have active positivity. According to 2Tim 1:12b, this is what the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write. . . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. We all should seek to spread joy rather than allowing gloom to take over. E-lim-i-nate the negative – Actively removing any destructive thoughts or actions. Perhaps Col 3:5 embraces this sentiment best - Mortify (put to death) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Then we have, Latch on to the affirmative – which is a directive to hold onto what is true, good and affirming. Nothing is more true than God’s Word. In Phil 2:16, the Spirit had Paul tell the brethren to “latch on” to the Word, and why. Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Following this, we see, Don’t mess with Mr. In-between – This phrase warns against complacency, mediocrity or being unproductive. The brethren of Laodicea, in Rev 3:15-16 were told, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Being in between, neither cold nor hot, is very displeasing to God and Christ. After this, in the song we have, You got to spread joy up to the maximum, Bring gloom down to the minimum, which is essentially the same as accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. However, this is not something one can do on their own. This brings us to the final phrase of the chorus.
Have faith, or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene – Many have an improper understanding of faith. Faith is not simply what one believes. True faith, in accordance to Rom 10:17 only comes from God’s Word. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Then, we learn from Jas 1:22 that only hearing God’s Word won’t save. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Will you not ‘hear and obey’ God’s N.T. Word today? Accentuate the positive, eliminating the negative, and strive to prepare for eternity with God by doing God’s Will. His Will is His Word. Remember what the Spirit had the apostle write in 1John 2:15a & 17b. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. . . . but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. ” Not doing the will of God equals eternal pandemonium for you.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
