Dave’s Monday Blast – September 12, 2016

Last week we began unpacking a compelling new book by Barry Corey, the President of Biola University. In his book, “Love Kindness – Discovering the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue”, President Corey makes the case that if we are to be “On Mission” as a Christ-Followers, i.e., we are committed to being disciple makers; we must also be committed to pursuing Christ-like Kindness. A robust understanding of this “forgotten virtue” can have a profound impact on how we as Christians share our faith, engage in politics, serve the marginalized, bridge racial and cultural divides and go about our day-to-day work as Image Bearers of the Most High God.

Kindness must shape and define Christians lest we be increasingly marginalized and even mocked within the context of the “Culture Wars” that are raging all around. Make no mistake; it takes courage to be kind. But without kindness, we will not be effective disciple makers. Corey contends that kindness is the way of firm centers and soft edges. Christians must have at their “center”, firm convictions based upon the Word of God; truth without compromise. Kindness must describe our “edge”. Our edge is our method or tactic used to communicate the good news.

Unfortunately, many Christians today have a spongy or soft center. What conviction they do have is not based upon the Word of God. Their convictions are based upon how they feel about their experiences and therefore subject to change. Their “edge” is often defined by niceness. Niceness is not the same as kindness. It lacks conviction and courage. It finds itself unable to speak the truth because the highest goal is to never “offend”. Why? Because that is not loving. Corey contends that kindness is the opposite of niceness because it speaks the truth with Biblical conviction, but it does so in love. (Ephesians 4:15) 

Unfortunately, many Christians with firm centers also possess a very firm edge. This means that their tactics are harsh or aggressive. They are more concerned with “making a point” than developing a relationship. This tactic lacks the necessary ingredient of kindness. Whereas aggression can have a firm center and a hard edge, niceness has a soft edge, but a spongy center. Niceness may be pleasant, but it lacks the conviction of the Word of God.

Again…our goal…if we are truly kind is to have a firm center and a soft edge. Kindness gives us the soft edge. We exhale kindness after we inhale what’s been breathed into us by the Spirit of God. Romans 2:4 informs us that the way of kindness leads to repentance. It changes people! Change is the first step in the disciple making process. Remember….the TRUTH of who Jesus Christ is TRANSFORMS us. And once transformed, we are compelled to TESTIFY to the truth that transformed.

Friends…we don’t just “do kindness”. We are to “love kindness”. It is the partner of “do justice” and without it our tactics will be aggressive or harsh, our edges hard, and effectiveness doubtful. I want to finish this discussion next week by looking at Micah Chapter 6.