Kindness.

There's a lot of talk these days about tolerance. Every time I peek at the news, or open my Facebook page, or glance at the paper I see headlines that tell of people being hateful to one another- spewing horrid words and bullying and attacking. Some people do this in the name of religion. Some people do this in the name of 'equal rights'. I'm not sure how either side justifies this. The world appears to be crying for tolerance from everyone- but they seem to be looking at Christians when they say it's lacking.

I am friends with many people who I suppose I don't see eye to eye with. We don't vote the same, we don't think the same... we have differing viewpoints on politics, faith, child rearing, and more. I feel strongly about protecting some of my rights that they would vote to take away- and they feel strongly about protecting rights that they wish they had. Still, we are kind to one another.

I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that they could beat the love of God into others. I can't imagine why being in the room with someone who we think is lost makes us think it's okay to shame, humiliate or physically assault them. When I see a child lost in Target, separated from his parents, I don't want to beat him to a pulp. I want to help him get un-lost. If I walk up to him, yelling at him for wandering away, coming at him in attack mode, how is that going to help him to want to come with me to safety?

Christians, when we think back on the people we were before we started following Christ, how can we be so arrogant as to think we have the right to behave unkindly toward anyone at all?  Heck, when we think of the number things we need to repent of this week, why do we think we can be in a position to throw stones?  Think back to what won you over to Christ... was it someone waving a sign at you with your sin printed on it? did you quit sinning because someone had a bumpersticker telling you you were going to hell? Or was your story sweeter, kinder, gentler?  Yes, we need to be intolerant to sin- we don't need to look at it, participate in it, finance it, or applaud it... but there is no excuse for being cruelly intolerant of sinners. The Bible tells us that God's kindness led us to repentance...

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.  And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.  Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?  Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 2:1-4

I am afraid that some of my friends may never know the love of God because they can't get over the hateful words and actions of 'Christians.'  let it not be so, Lord. Let me transparent and real. Let me love others the way that God does... and may it be contagious. I pray my friends will not grow to believe that our God is someone who requires we be perfect before we can be family.  I pray they will know that God is loving and kind and soon, that they will love Him too. I also pray that my children will learn to love in the same way.

*sigh*







*side tangent* PS: For the record, I am offended to be lumped in with the haters when I stand up for what is right. It's not 'intolerant' for me to stand up for my children when they are made to watch a film that claims to disprove the Bible while they're at public school. If I can do it kindly and rationally, it's not hateful. I need to be tolerant and fair, but so does my school district. Since when does 'tolerance' mean it's a crime to be unfair to every group except Christians? pft.