What The Church Needs Now – 3 A LOVING LIFESTYLE 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

 

What The Church Needs Now – 3

A LOVING LIFESTYLE

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

• What do you think teachers do when they get together with other teachers? … (talk about their students)

• What do you think Drs. do when they get together with other Drs.? … 

(talk about their patients)

• So, what do you think Pastors do when they get together with other Pastors? … (talk about their congregation)

Well, all other Pastors do! … I had my monthly luncheon with the area Pastors on Wednesday, & honestly, when I talk about you, I brag.

You all are wonderful, & I’m blessed.

But back to other Pastors, one of my favorite Pastor/congregation stories comes from my friend, Bob Salmon.  Bob & I used to spend time together, & even fantasized about someday co-pastoring a church.  

Bob liked administration & counseling; I liked preaching & teaching.

So, we thought it would be a good fit.

Bob shared this wonderful story with me years ago, & I’ve never forgotten it.  At the time he was pastoring a congregation in the northside of Pittsburgh, & one year he began a program to “reach out” into the community.  So, the congregation got together & formed teams,

each having 2 members.  These teams then went out into the neighborhoods to get to know the people & talk to them about the Church.   

One team was comprised of 2 women … Helen & Gladys, 

who were in their early 80’s.  (As Bob tells the story I picture them sort of like Mary George … sweet ladies.)

Well, Helen & Gladys were given a map & told very clearly to go down to Summit Drive & turn right.  But Helen & Gladys, who had spent their lives teaching elementary school, were better in giving directions than receiving them.  They turned left, venturing into the housing projects.  This meant that Helen & Gladys proceeded to evangelize the “wrong neighborhood.”   

And thereby ran the risk of evangelizing the “wrong people.”

Later that afternoon, each team returned to the Church to make a report of the experiences.  Helen & Gladys had only 1 interested person to talk about … a woman named Verleen.  Nobody else on their wayward route was even remotely interested in visiting the Church … nobody, that is, but Verleen.  She lived with her 2 children in a 3-room apartment in the projects.  And although she had never been to a church in her life, 

Verleen decided she wanted to visit theirs.

Now this is what happens when people don’t follow directions.  

This is what you get when you don’t listen to your Pastor.

You get a woman from the projects named Verleen.

So, the next Sunday Helen & Gladys proudly presented Verleen at the worship service, along with her 2 children.  Verleen liked it so much that she wanted to attend the Thursday morning lady’s Bible Study.  

Helen & Gladys said that they’d be happy to pick her up.

Thursday morning Verleen proudly appeared, clutching her new Bible, 

a gift from Helen & Glady’s circle.  The 1st Bible Verleen had ever seen,

 much less opened, & she was so excited.

Now Bob was leading the study that morning on Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  And after a brief explanation, 

in order to get the discussion going, he asked the ladies …

“Have any of you ever faced temptations?  Have any of you refused some temptation because of your Christian commitment?”

One of the women said that just the week before there was some confusion in the checkout line at the grocery store & she discovered in the parking lot that she had a loaf of bread that she hadn’t paid for.  At 1st she reasoned, “why should I pay for it; I give them enough money.”  But then she thought, “No, I’m a Christian.”  So, she went back in & paid for it.

Well, with that Verleen jumped up!

“A couple of years ago I was into cocaine really big.

You know what that’s like.  You know how that stuff really makes you crazy.  Well, anyway, my boyfriend, not the one I have now, but the one who’s the daddy of my 1st child.  Well, he knocked off a gas station one night.  

We got $200 out of it.  It was as simple as taking candy from a baby.  

Well, my boyfriend says to me, ‘let’s knock off the 7/11 store down on the corner.’  Something in me said, ‘No.  I held up the gas station with you, but I ain’t gonna hold up no convenience store.’  Well, he beat the crap out of me, but I still said, ‘no’ & it felt great.  That’s the only time in my life that I ever said ‘no’ to anything … & it made me feel like I was somebody!”

Through the stunned silence Bob managed to stutter, “well, er, ah, 

that’s resisting temptation.  Let’s close with prayer.”

Afterward, as Bob was helping Helen into her car, she said,

“I can’t wait to get home & start inviting other ladies to come next week.  You know, your Bible studies used to be kind of dull, 

but I can get a good crowd for this!”

I wanted to use Bob’s story as an introduction this morning because I really enjoyed it, & I hoped you would too.  And also, because I bet Corinth was like that.  Don’t read the N.T. & think all the people in those early churches were some kind of holy saints.  They were congregations made up of Verleen’s … people who came out of the “projects” of life.

They were real flesh & blood human beings

So, with that, listen to Good News, from Paul to the Church in Corinth, & also to Bear Creek Church.  Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

Jesus said, “How happy are those who hear the word of God & obey it!” 

(Luke 11:28)

May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen

The past couple of weeks we’ve been looking at what love is; 

this morning we’re going to focus on what love is not.

Apparently, the Corinthians were doing so many things wrong in regards to their relationships that it was necessary for Paul to point them out.  And, don’t be surprised, as we look at these today,                                

if you might identify yourself in here somewhere, I know I did.

“Love is not jealous, not conceited, not proud; 

love is not ill-mannered, not selfish,  not irritable; 

love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil.”

The Corinthians gathered regularly for times of worship, learning, 

& communion.  They sang sacred songs & hymns.  They said their prayers.  They were doing “right” things.  But something was missing.  

They were not living in love. (John 13;34-35)

Paul doesn’t soft-soap his comments as we do today.  

“Hey, I understand why you Corinthians are treating each other this way.  You probably had some poor parental relationships.  

Some of you were abused & neglected.”  All of those kinds of explanations 

& excuses we now use to indulge bad behavior.

Certainly, Paul would have been concerned about those things, 

but he knows that when people come to faith in Jesus, they must pursue change. There’s no excuse before God for lives that are boastful, proud, 

rude, or self-seeking. 

 Paul saw all of that in Corinth, & those people needed to change.

Now Paul also wrote this because he knew these things existed in his own heart.  He remembered what his life was like before coming to faith in Jesus.  He was a highly religious Pharisee; a man who was a leader among leaders; a man with a brilliant mind. (Philippians 3:5-6)

But he didn’t know anything about love.  Paul knew harshness.  

He knew rudeness.  He knew anger.  He knew self-righteousness.  

He knew pride.  He was all the things he writes about in this paragraph.

So, he’s not just some unconcerned bystander.

He’s had to deal with all of this personally.  Day by day he’s had to address these things in his own life.  He’s had to confess & overcome them.  So, he’s not just pointing his finger at the Corinthians, he’s also looking at himself.

Another reason why Paul includes this paragraph is that it describes the fallen condition of the human heart. (Jeremiah 17:9)                             

And it’s not a pretty picture.

Again, I can’t speak for you, but when I read these words, 

I find myself needing to pray a prayer of confession.

“Lord Jesus, forgive me for my jealously.  Lord, I must confess that there are times when I’m conceited.  Jesus, I’m a proud man.  Lord, when left to my own instincts I’m often ill-mannered, selfish, & irritable.  I remember in my heart sins that people did … especially when they hurt me.  Jesus, 

there’s something in me that enjoys evil.  I’m much more fascinated about lies & slander; stuff people whisper about, than I am with the truth.”

Is that a prayer that you need to pray? … 

But the Good News is, while all of this is a description of what we are by instinct, it can be replaced when The Holy Spirit dwells in our heart.  

When we experience conversion, change, when we come to faith … 

our responses will be different. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When we’re filled with love, we stop being jealous of others.  

We become satisfied with what we are, & what we have.  We’re not conceited.  We don’t have to brag to build ourselves up.  When the love of Christ fills us, we don’t have to be ill-mannered with others.  We can step back & be servants. (Galatians 5:13) When the love of Christ fills us, we don’t have to be selfish; wondering, worrying, if we’re always going to get our fair share.  We don’t have to be self-seeking.  Paul writes, “Love is not irritable.”

We’ve been talking about this for the past few Sundays.  

There’s so much rage & anger in our world today.  I don’t know, 

maybe even some of us, are ready at any given moment, to explode.

“Love does not keep a record of wrongs.”  It doesn’t hold grudges.  

It doesn’t remember something done 10/12 years ago.  And it doesn’t rejoice in hearing evil news about others … “but is happy with the truth.”

I’ve talked about my admiration of Charles Colson on several occasions.  

Do you remember who he was?  Richard Nixon’s henchman.  

I believe he had one of the most profound conversions in our time.

And, as far as I’m concerned, he became one of the best articulators of the Christian faith in the past 50 years.

He spent the 1st ½ of his life living just as Paul describes here.  

Then, in the midst of a prison experience, he came to faith in Jesus.  

And things began to change, & what changed most was his ability to love.

In his book, “Life Sentence,” Colson tells of being interviewed by the irreverent Lou Gordon.  Gordon’s TV shows were famous for their controversy.  In particular, he hated every person who participated in Watergate.  And he desperately wanted Colson on his show so he could tear him apart.  Well, that opportunity happened, & when the director flashed the signal for the program to begin, it was like a bell for the 1st round in a heavyweight fight.  Gordon came out swinging.

“Mr. Colson, I’m glad you’re here to answer for yourself because we’ve discussed you on my program many times.”

“Not all bad, I hope.”

“No, always bad; in fact, 

I can’t think of anything good I’ve ever said about you.”

 

Then Gordon began, like a machine gun, 

firing every tough question he could conjure up.

Colson writes,

“My answers just intensified his fury; the blue veins running through his temples were throbbing, his neck was turning a purplish red.  Never had I been interviewed by someone trying so hard to be obnoxious.

For Gordon, this was a holy crusade to smite the most despised enemy.  

“Several times I bit my lip to keep from slashing replies that had once been 2nd nature to me.  When I finally spoke of the power of Jesus Christ, 

it looked like the top of Gordon’s head would erupt.

“Then he hit me with an unexpected blow.  ‘Do you suppose, Mr. Colson, 

that God caused your father to die while you were in prison as a punishment for your lifetime of sins?’

“My anger flared.  My Dad was my closest friend; a wonderful, decent, kind man, still a model for my life.  I loved him deeply.  ‘Why should I put up with this?’  I asked myself as I stared into Gordon’s cold eyes.  He stared back, absolute contempt passed between us.  Every human impulse wanted to strike back at him.  The perfect answer was on the tip of my tongue: 

‘I understand you had a near fatal heart attack a year ago; maybe God was punishing you for your hate, for all the bile you’ve spilled out on others.’

“I wanted to attack him so much I could taste it.  

Then came a calm, gentle nudging, a reminder of His way.  

‘I don’t believe that, Lou.  Ours is a loving God.’

“It wasn’t a strong response either verbally or theologically.  

But the crisis passed, the tension broke.  Gordon leaned back in his chair, spent, as I gave my testimony which millions saw on the screen.

“For weeks I relived that painful moment, alternately wishing that I’d torn into him for the sake of my Dad’s memory, & then thanking God I hadn’t.  Then I forgot about Lou Gordon until months later.  Skimming through Time magazine my eye caught ‘Milestones.’  ‘Died: TV interviewer, Lou Gordon, 

age 60, of a heart attack.’  Had I struck back with the answer that jumped 

into my mind, I’d have regretted it the rest of my days.”

Wow … that’s such a powerful commentary of this passage.  

And it literally hits me right between the eyes.  Each of us finds ourselves at times being attacked, I can close my eyes & can honestly remember 

& relive those moments in my own experience.  Maybe you can too.

And when those happen, when someone releases that horrible bile directly 

at you, at me … how do we respond?  How should we respond?

There is a battle constantly going on in each of us.  It’s between our human nature & our spiritual nature. It’s between the flesh, & the spirit.

And it happens on a daily basis.  How are we going to live?  

Who are we living for?  Who is sitting on the throne of our heart?

Who do I serve?  Who do you serve? (Joshua 24:15)

“Love is patient & kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; 

love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; 

love does not keep a record of wrongs; 

love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.”

Now, let’s insert our names …

______ is patient & kind; ______ is not jealous or conceited or proud; ______ is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; 

______ does not keep a record of wrongs;

 _____ is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.

MARANA THA

What The Church Needs Now: KINDNESS

 

from the desk of . . .

Rande Wayne Smith

D.Min., Th.M., M.Div.

 

What The Church Needs Now – 3 

 

KINDNESS

 

… based on 1 Corinthians 13:4

 

​I was thinking about Debbie’s comment last Sunday during our discussion period.  We were talking about patience, & she said, “Remember, your Mom taught you to use a spoon.”  What a terrific thought to ponder, 

& I found myself doing that throughout the week.  In fact, I recalled many of the things my Mom taught me, that are simply 2nd nature to me now.

 

For example, tying my shoes … saying “please, thank you, pardon me, 

& I’m sorry”, & meaning it … washing my hands before eating … listening before speaking … manners matter … do unto others as you want them to do to you … cover my mouth when sneezing … praying before going to sleep … 

& “If I can’t say something nice about someone … (don’t say anything at all”).

 

Now I know that I’m kind of Pollyanna, but I expect everyone to live 

that way, & when they don’t, it really saddens me.

 

This morning we’re going to talk about kindness.  So, I went to my thesaurus 

to discover its’ meaning & found these words: affectionate, charitable, polite, compassionate, good-hearted, gracious, thoughtful, & caring.

And that, it seems, is a good place for us to begin.

 

Now the Scripture passage that I’m going to use may be the shortest one you’ve ever heard a preacher read for his sermon text.

 

So, listen now to Good News from Paul to the Church in Corinth, & also to us at Bear Creek Church.  Within our hearing comes the Word of the Lord …

 

“Love is kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

“May my words & my thoughts be acceptable to you, 

O LORD, my refuge & my redeemer!” (The Psalms 19:14)

 

May the Lord grant that we may engage in contemplating the mysteries of His Heavenly wisdom with really increasing devotion, to His glory and to our edification. Amen​

 

​When I think about kindness, I remember something that I witnessed 35 years ago up in Boston, & it’s as clear to me as if it happened yesterday.

Now Boston is one of my favorite cities, so as I tell this story,

it’s by no means to be a reflection on Boston, because this could obviously happen in Indianapolis, or any other city for that matter.  

 

I was up there working on my Doctoral program, & my friend, Mike Gillern, 

& I decided one Saturday afternoon to go watch a Red Sox ballgame, 

& then eat at the “Cheers” bar, before heading back to school.  

As we were walking along the street, out to Fenway Park, 

I saw a white limousine sitting at the curb.

In the lane right beside it was a yellow cab … waiting for the light to change.

 

​Now just before it changed the taxi moved up about 4 or 5’ at an angle so he could turn right, just in front of the limo, which would kind of cut it off.  As the taxi moved around the front of the limo the driver stuck his arm out of the window & motioned … “give me space, give me space.”

 

​About that time the limo driver got out of his vehicle, & I caught sight of a can of Coke in his hand.  Then, before I realized what was happening,

with the swiftness of a Caitlin Clark pass, he threw the can at the taxi.

And he was right on the mark.

That can sailed through the open window & glanced off the driver’s arm.

It must have hurt terribly; & Coke splattered all over inside of that taxicab.

Depending upon your point of view … it was a beautiful shot.

 

​The taxi continued turning right, while the limo driver got back into his vehicle & went straight ahead.  Mike & I were standing right there.

We wondered later what would have happened if the taxi driver had had a .357 magnum with him.  We’d have been right in the line of fire.

 

Cities can sometimes be unkind places.

Just listen to the daily news out of Indianapolis.  

Corinth was apparently an unkind city, 

& it looks as if the Corinthian Church could have been an unkind Church.  Coming there as a visitor, we might not have wanted to stay.

 

​Members of the congregation were taking each other to court & asserting their rights. (1 Corinthians 6:6) One member was suing another & the Church was dividing into sides. (1 Corinthians 6:7) There was sexual immorality going on, & nobody was doing anything about it. (1 Corinthians 8:1)The wealthy were coming to the Lord’s Table with big picnic baskets full of food, while the poor could hardly afford a piece of bread … & the wealthy didn’t care. 

(1 Corinthians 11:33) No one was exhibiting any trace of kindness.

 

​And yet, truth be told, we don’t live in a very kind world today any more than they did back in Corinth.  Ours is a society that’s bent on rapidly becoming as unkind in its’ activities as possible.  There are wonderful exceptions, of course, but the fact of the matter is that every day we’re seeing & being affected by lots & lots of acts of unkindness.  

 

I struggle with much of what’s on television today.  I really do.  

From my perspective, it seems that many of the so-called “comedy” shows build their humor around disrespect & unkindness towards family members.  It’s termed “put-down” humor.  I wonder, does television reflect the age or reinforce it?  Regardless of your answer … the news isn’t good.

 

If television reflects the age … 

it doesn’t say much good about the day in which we live.  

And if television reinforces the age … then we’re in serious trouble.

 

​I find the same kind of insolent behavior with some of the “popular” commentators.  There was an article in Time magazine a month or 2 ago entitled … “Enough.”  And I’m not talking about politics solely now, but rather attitudes.  Those individuals on the airways or in the written word,

who have millions of followers, & seem to do nothing but tear people apart.  

And not a person’s politics, or convictions, or philosophies, that’s one thing …

but their personhood.  We’re being taught a whole new way today of how to think, & act, & speak unkindly.

We’re experiencing it everywhere in our society … people being rude, 

disrespectful, & just downright mean.  We pin labels or derogatory phrases on people, not caring that those terms can be truly hurtful.

 

Bullying & cyberbullying are major issues for our children.  

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24.  

And the 2nd leading cause of death for kids 10-14!  Our kids are facing a type of unkindness that is simply out of my realm of comprehension.  

And I pray daily for spiritual protection for my grandchildren.

 

​Remember Ryan White? He was the teenager from Kokomo, IN who contracted HIV/AIDS through a contaminated blood transfusion.  His story broke my heart. Even though he posed absolutely no risk to any of the other students, he was banned from his school, he was treated terribly during those final years of his life.  And even in death his grave was vandalized.  

 

​What about here in Nashville, the young student a couple of years ago at the High School who was singled out in the yearbook, & identified simply as “the black guy”? Because of that his family had to relocate out of IN.

 

You know, the list could be endless if we wanted to illustrate unkindness.  

I suspect that each of us could offer our own examples from every aspect of life.  The good news is that there are wonderful exceptions as God works His grace among us.

 

Followers of Jesus particularly must truly care about others.(Galatians 6:10)

I like to challenge people to take the qualities found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that are called “fruits of the Spirit” … “the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, humility, 

& self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) … & honestly rate themselves.

 

​I remember a man from one congregation that I served came to me saying that he accepted that challenge.  

He told me, “You know, I came out pretty good … 

but I discovered that I’m not very kind.”  Isn’t that interesting?

 

What does a “kind” person look like? …  (Picture in your mind right now 

a person you consider to be kind.) … Paul writes, “Love is kind.”

​So, are you a kind person? …  Before answering that, let’s look at the word “kind”.  It’s one of those words that has almost become colorless in our vocabulary.  It’s practically meaningless.

 

What do we mean when we use the word “kind”?

Let me suggest that kindness is the practical expression of what’s in our heart.  It clearly demonstrates what we really are.  If my heart is filled with hatred & bitterness, if it contains vengeance & resentment, then it follows that I’ll become a volcano, spewing out things that’ll be the opposite of kindness.  But, if the love of Christ is in my heart, then I won’t be a volcano of evil things, but rather a fountain of compassionate things.

 

Kindness is treating a person, not as they deserve to be treated, 

but as they need to be treated.  There’s an enormous difference between the 2.  God has not treated us as we “deserve” to be treated; 

He has treated us as we “need” to be treated. (Romans 5:8)

 

Kindness emerges from the revelation of God.  

The God of the Scriptures is uniquely a kind God.  When God speaks & acts … He expresses Himself in kindness.

​

In Exodus we read about God revealing Himself to the Hebrews.

He carries on a conversation with Moses.  And in response, Moses asks God who He is & what He wants the people to know about Him.  So, “the LORD came down in a cloud, stood with him there, & pronounced his holy name, the LORD.  The LORD then passed in front of him & called out, ‘I, the LORD am a God who is full of mercy, who is kind, who doesn’t become angry quickly, 

who has great love & faithfulness & is kind to 1,000’s of people.’” (Exodus 34:5-6)

 

Those are some of the most important words found in Scripture.  

You see, the gods of all the other nations were considered to be unkind.  

They were vengeful.  Step out of line, & zap.

They were ready to bring devastating consequences upon the person,

his family, & even his nation.  People feared the gods.

Try as hard as they could to please them, but it was never enough.

 

And now, here comes Israel, saying to the world,

“our God is entirely different.”  He “is not easily angered.”

This was a totally new recognition & understanding.

 

“God is kind & full of mercy; he is patient & keeps his promise; 

he is always ready to forgive & not punish.” (Joel 2:13)

 

These words are the foundation of our understanding of the LORD.  

He is “a loving & merciful God, always patient, always kind.” (Jonah 4:2)

 

Some of us grew up with fathers who were unkind.  They were abusive.  Some of us had very kind fathers, who took us in their arms & affirmed us.  

Psychologists say that it’s not uncommon to form a view of God that’s similar to our view of our fathers.

 

In the Gospel of Luke, we find Jesus teaching about kindness.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, & pray for those who mistreat you.  If anyone hits you on onecheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well.  Give to everyone who asks you for something, & when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. 

Do for others just what you want them to do for you.” (Luke 6:27-31)

 

​All of us have heard those words so many times they’ve practically lost their punch.  But I’m sure when Jesus 1st said this everybody’s mouth must have dropped open. … Who can live this way? … 

 

Jesus taught a faith that was radical in its’ responses in our daily words 

& deeds.  Listen to how Jesus says His followers should live.

 

“Love your enemies & do good to them; lend & expect nothing back.  You will then have a great reward, & you will be children of the Most High God. …

Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

Be kind, just as your heavenly Father is kind.

 

The Scriptures teach us to love our enemies, do good to them, 

& leave judgment to God. (Matthew 5:38-45; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:9)

 

Jesus & the disciples are traveling through Samaria.  

Darkness comes & the disciples ask the villagers if they can stay the night.  The villagers say “no”.  They don’t want them.

The 12, who obviously have a lot to learn about kindness, ask Jesus, 

“Do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54)

That was their 1st thought!  Immediately, revenge.  You insulted me, 

so I’m going to hurt you.  You’re going to be sorry for treating me that way.

 

How do you react to people who treat you badly? … 

The disciples acted unkindly.

Their feelings had been hurt, so their immediate reaction was to strike back.

 

At another time the issue wasn’t hospitality, but children.  

Jesus is very busy & the disciples show unkindness when mothers bring their children to Him.  The disciples turn them away, but Jesus says …

“Let the children come to me, & do not stop them, 

because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)

And this busy, busy, busy Messiah shows kindness towards the children.

 

​And even in the final moments of Jesus’ earthly life, when He’s on the cross between 2 criminals.  Initially they both insulted Him, right along with the chief priests & the teachers of the Law & the elders, & even the people who were passing by. (Matthew 27:39,41,44) But suddenly 1 of the criminals stops, 

“& he said to Jesus, ‘Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!’”

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I promise you that today 

you will be in Paradise with me.’” (Luke 23:42-43)

 

​Sometimes when we’re stressed over some issue, we become especially irritable with those around us.  Yet, here’s Jesus, in the midst of dying,

under unimaginable stress & pain, & He’s being kind to another person …

a person who just moments before even mocked Him!

 

One of the marks that God’s presence is established in us is kindness.

It’s seen in the way we treat the people around us.  The Apostle Paul teaches … “Be kind & tender-hearted to oneanother.” (Ephesians 4:32)

 

He writes, “look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.”

(Philippians 2:4)

 

Kindness, not only in the way we treat each other, 

but also, in the way we communicate.  

​I’m saddened at how quickly we’re ready to be negative with others & criticize.  It’s almost as if we’d rather find fault with a person, rather than something good. This is a growing pattern even in the Christian community.  

It’s the tendency to think the worst of everybody’s motives.

We do it with our leaders, our spouses, our children, our friends, 

our neighbors … & when we are unkind in our thoughts, words & actions,

we’re not demonstrating the love of Christ.

 

The Proverbs teach … “You do yourself a favor when you are kind.  

If you are cruel, you only hurt yourself.” (The Proverbs 11:17)

 

​That means that, more often than not, when I am kind, God will assure that kindness will somehow come back to me.  It will be rewarded.

What goes around … comes around.

 

​Now 2 of my 3 graduate degrees came from G.C.T.S., which is located north of Boston.  I am thankful to have had the opportunity to have studied at such a great learninginstitution.

 

​I initially arrived on campus in September 1976, for my Master of Divinity studies.  And as I was walking from the main building over to the library, I was climbing the steps & this distinguished looking gentleman was coming down.  He looked over at me, stopped, & said, “Welcome to Gordon-Conwell Rande, it’s so good to have you here.” And then he went on his way, 

leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open.

 

I soon discovered that this was Dr. Christy Wilson.

Dr. Wilson is the most Christ-like person I’ve ever met.

I honestly believe that if Jesus had lived to be 70-years-old, He would have been like Christy Wilson.  Dr. Wilson was my professor of Mission & Evangelism, & went home to be with his Lord, about 25 years ago now.

 

Let me tell you about Dr. Wilson.

Every May he went to the Registrar’s office & got the names & pictures of all the incoming students & he’d prayeach day during the summer for them. 

(He looked at my picture & prayed for me daily!)  

And then when we showed up in September … he knew us!

​Dr. Wilson & his wife spent many years as Presbyterian missionaries in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He was the Pastor of the only Christian Church of that city.  It was a small congregation, but it was there, 

& it was a wonderful witness to the love of Jesus Christ.

 

​You may remember, many years ago, when Afghanistan was being intimidated & occupied by the Russian government.  

And for a # of years it was a totally dominated Communist country.

 

​One day word came to the members of the Church in Kabul that their building was being confiscated.  It was a lovely building, 

built with their own hands, & now it was going to be destroyed.

(Eddie, because of your own work, along with Kay, herewith this building,

you of all people can imagine how they must have felt.)

 

No one believed that the government would really do that, but, when the day came closer it was clear that they fully intended to carry out that order.

 

All over the world Christians prayed for that congregation.

I remember this vividly back in Indiana, PA, at my home church, Graystone Church, which was very mission minded, one Sunday morning we actually went to our knees praying for the Christians in Kabul.  We sent a telegram to the Afghanistan government asking that the building be saved & those Christians not be persecuted. “Please God, intervene & prevent that destruction.”

 

But for some reason God chose not to answer those prayers.

On 17 July 1973, at the appointed hour the bulldozers came down the road to destroy the building.  A couple of weeks later word arrived back in the U.S. that the church building had been leveled … nothing was left.

 

​Later we learned what that congregation did on that day they watched their beautiful building, the one they’d built & worshiped in, being destroyed.

The one that was “holy ground” for those believers.

 

Do you know what they did? …

They set up a table & served tea & pastries to the men who destroyed their church building! … They were kind to those men.  To the moment the last brick was turned over by a bulldozer … they exhibited kindness there.  

You & I are recipients of kindness, & God expects us, 

in our own lives, to exhibit kindness, to our friends, 

to strangers, & even to our enemies.  “Love is kind.”

I want to be a kind person.  How about you?

 

MARANA THA