Kindness

I look around.
I see many things.
I hear and read many words.
I encounter people
   who have things to say.

In Colossians Paul writes,
   “As God’s chosen ones,
   holy and beloved,
   clothe yourselves with
   compassion, kindness,
   humility and meekness…”

Paul says more, but I want us
   to think about kindness.

Kindness is an extension of
   knowing in your own soul
   what it would be like to be
   the victim of unkind remarks
   or of unkind actions.

Being unkind is a symptom of
   a soul sickness in which we
   are blind to the fundamental
   needs of others and to our
   ability to be minister’s of the
   gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is why we welcome unkind
   people into the church and why,
   from time to time, those unkind
   people cause others distress and
   represent the faith and the
   church so poorly to the world.

As hard as it is to say, unkind people
   need Jesus more than anyone.

How is unkindness expressed?
   Harsh judgment.
   Thoughtless remarks.
   Acceding to others unkindness.
   Failing to acknowledge the
      value of another person.
   Ignoring people when they
      speak to us.
      Stigmatizing people by category.
      Writing someone off.
      Failing to reconcile.
      Remaining silent.

It is hard to love someone who is unkind.
   But that is exactly what we are called to do.

Luke says of Jesus,
   “…for he is kind to the ungrateful
   and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your
   Father is merciful.”

This is a teaching that makes the Christian faith
   most incredible.

Moving to the deeper places,
Jeff