Kind Christians

Unlike what most people assume, being nice and being kind are two different things.  They may share a few common attributes, but not many.  Being nice involves doing something that is pleasing or agreeable. On the other hand, kindness is doing something that is helpful to others.  It comes from a place of genuine concern and benevolence.  Therefore, as strange as it may seem, you can be kind without always being nice.  A person who is really kind sometimes will not nice, because the truly kind response won’t always be pleasing to the other person. In many situations, being nice is not necessarily kind at all.  

Niceness can be dangerous for the Christian.  When we pretend not to see the sin or error, then before long we tend to stop seeing altogether; we don’t have to pretend anymore.  Niceness can fold a gentle cloth over our eyes so we no longer see sin clearly.  We become all things to all people, not to win them to Christ, but just because we want to be accepted.  Of course, eventually you will begin to assume that everyone else is as fake as you are. 

In this week's PathLight, we will be reminded that if our relationships are just nice, no one will tell us the truth, and therefore no one can really be trusted. Niceness lures us in with the promise of being liked, maybe even loved, then leaves us with hollow relationships, that lack authenticity.  You are invited to join Dr. T. D. Worthington for this week's program.