Be the Light- pt 5- kindness

Kindness. A word we do not hear very often. It is a word we see seldom in practice in our day to day lives. Harshness and judgment are the orders of the day. People are easy on themselves and hard on others- and often driven to be so by people who profit off of misery and unhappiness.

But God calls His people to be kind.

And what is both sad and encouraging, kindness is noticeable. And appreciated.

(Uber driver story from Tallahassee- helping Margo find a place to stay and get help and praying with her)

God does not like ugliness. Can I be direct with you about that. Some harsh words in scripture are reserved for those who practice cruelty and harsh judgment.

Go with me to Romans 2:1-5.

Now think about this context. Paul just got done in chapter 1 giving an EXTENSIVE list of the sin patterns of a fallen world. And announcing that everyone is fallen in some way.

So “Therefore” is a follow up from those previous sentences, and it is aimed at the church, not a non-believing world- who he has already critiqued to the hilt.

Harsh judgment- the antithesis of kindness- is rebuked in stark terms. In short, by being unkind to others, we are proving ourselves guilty of the very things we are being harsh about.

Romans (1) God’s Righteous Judgment (2:1–16)

Stott says Paul “seems to be confronting every human being (Jew or Gentile) who is a moralizer, who presumes to pass judgment on other people

Look at verse 2.

God is going to deal with sin. Our job is not to add our harshness to the wrath of God.

Romans (1) God’s Righteous Judgment (2:1–16)

God’s judgment is “based on truth,” that is, it is “utterly impartial” (Phillips). It is in accordance with the facts. But now comes the catch. The Jews were guilty of the “same things.” So to pass judgment on the sins of others, while at the same time practicing those very same sins, was to pass judgment on themselves. Paul’s readers would have to agree that they could not “escape God’s judgment.”

And in verse 3 Paul reminds us, that the same judgment for our sins awaits the very people we are being harsh to.

So what are we to do?

Be kind.

Verse 4- God draws us to Jesus in kindness. and with kindness.

Church there is enough harshness in the world. We do not need help finding harshness. We do need help finding kindness.

Romans (1) God’s Righteous Judgment (2:1–16)

“Are you not, by your hypocritical involvement in the very sins you condemn in others, holding the kindness, tolerance,66 and patience of God in contempt?” “Don’t you realize that in withholding punishment, God is trying68 to lead you to repentance [paraphrase]?” God’s gracious dealing with his own people should have taught them of his kindness and patience. But, true to human nature, such things are rather quickly forgotten. They are “known” yet “forgotten” and must be brought to mind repeatedly.

And kindness costs you nothing.

There is a movement of “Christians” in Oklahoma who enjoy and celebrate harshness. And they are cheered on (invading a church to protest)

Can I be honest with you. What did that accomplish? Did it win over anyone? No. It served no purpose.

Kindness can and should include honest dialogue, but there is a way to talk about sin with tears in your eyes.

(Jesus with the woman caught in adultery)

And Jesus is the standard. Turn with me to Titus 3:3-11.

When Paul send this letter to the church Titus leads, he is guiding a church he has never met, but is invested in through his ministry and he wants them to get the essence of the Gospel, and the work of Jesus.

In verse 3, he reminds them of what they once were- which harkens back to the first chapter of Romans.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Paul then described the degenerate condition of the pagan society in which Christians had to live. Interestingly, his comments focus on the human condition within the society. Humankind’s innate sinful nature and the intensity with which it can manifest itself determines the degradation of all human society

And notice verse 4- it was not the judgment of God that drew them to Jesus- it was His kindness. The kindness of God displayed in the arrival and the sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of people in open rebellion against Him (see vs 5a)

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

Christians, though at one time degenerate and lost, were objects of God’s kindness and love, which resulted in their salvation. Christians are to demonstrate this same kindness and love to lost individuals and society, making Christianity attractive and resulting in the salvation of others

And what He does is nothing short of a complete re- making of us into His image (v5b-7)

And the result of this is we are equipped to be KIND- good works that are what?

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. The Theological Basis for Proper Behavior (3:3–8)

The term for kindness, chrēstotēs, is unique to Paul in the New Testament. The “divine orientation” of this term is noted in its usual application to God (

Excellent and profitable for people,

In contrast to being unkind as illustrated in verses 9-11.

The anti-thesis of kindness:

foolish controversies

arguing about trivial things

being divisive

These are conditions of sin- a life that is mired in the old ways and not walking in the new life of Jesus.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus 3. Final Warning concerning False Teaching and Division (3:9–11)

Having offered an eloquent theological summary of the gospel and its inherent motivation to profitable good works, Paul again warned Titus concerning the “unprofitable” works of the false teachers. The adversative conjunction “but” (de) marks the contrast between correct theological teaching and its “profitable” results and false teaching and its “unprofitable” results. Paul’s warning to “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because they are unprofitable and useless”

In fact, to close, turn with me to Ephesians 4:31-32.

Paul is direct here. Put away all the unkindness.

The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition 3. Precepts of the New Life (4:25–5:2)

Mutual kindness, compassion, and a readiness to forgive are the qualities which should characterize Christians. Most appropriately so; for they were the qualities which characterized Christ. Moreover, he ascribed these same qualities to God, and made that fact the chief reason why the children of God should exhibit them

And exhibit kindness which reflects in:

tenderness

forgiveness

And once again the example- as Jesus was to us.

The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition 3. Precepts of the New Life (4:25–5:2)

Those who have been forgiven so much, and at so great a cost, must be forgiving in their turn. So too our Lord taught his disciples to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us”—not because our forgiving others can be the ground of God’s free forgiveness of us, but because we can neither seek nor enjoy his forgiveness so long as we cherish an unforgiving spirit to others

What if the church was the center of kindness?

What if you were the person of kindness in your world?

How would Jesus be made known?