I think about kindness a lot because I believe it lies at the heart of the Gospel. I’ve never heard of anyone becoming a Christian as a result of judgment, condemnation, or ridicule.
It occurs to me that Scripture never tells us to be “nice” but to be “kind.” Nice is usually a thin veneer of kindness with nothing of substance underneath.
One of my favorite verses is Romans 2:4: “Or do you … not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” It is God’s kindness that opens people’s hearts to God’s message.
It’s easy to be nice to the barista who gets your coffee order right or to a family member when you’re on good terms. Kindness, on the other hand, requires something more of you when there’s dissension or disagreement. We need the kindness described in Micah 6:8, which tells us “to love mercy” – often translated as “to love kindness.”
When kindness is infused with God’s Spirit and flows from a desire to honor Him, we can hold to our convictions while seasoning our words with love and grace. We can be open to conversation and productive dialogue.
I like the way Dr. Barry Corey, the president of Biola University since 2007, describes it: “Kindness is living with a firm center and soft edges.”
I’m talking with Dr. Corey on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly about how we can live with kindness in a culture that often exhibits conflict and intolerance. Listen on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.
Dr. Corey has written a book called Love Kindness: Discover the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue, which is available for a gift of any amount. Click here for more information or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
