Serving with Kindness | Part Eight
If we have any engagement with social media, we cannot help but notice increasing polarisation of viewpoints, increasing outrage and often vitriolic anger. Many Christians have abandoned social media believing that the environment is irredeemably toxic.
Others that remain connected become disheartened as we find ourselves adopting similar attitudes, language and behaviours that we actually find troublesome in other people.
Is this another area where we need to “Serve with Kindness”?
The apostle Paul, as usual, does not avoid addressing these sorts of dilemmas.
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.[1]
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies… we do not have to address every issue. We should engage over issues of importance, when people are going to be harmed by untruth – but we must not lose focus on what is important.
We should not be quarrelsome – in other words, let us not go looking for an argument; which does not mean that we disengage from conversation and meaningful discussion.
We are to be “kind to everyone” – to treat them with dignity, courtesy and grace – to have our attitude determined by our relationship with Jesus rather than our anger with another person.
If we are going to engage – we need to be able to teach, to assist thinking (including our own). We need to do this with patience – maybe putting up with evil, slander, misunderstanding – and seeking truth with gentleness.
How do we apply this to our GCSN theme of “Serving with Kindness”.
Firstly, we do not have to agree with the views or perspectives of those we seek to serve. Our service is to be an outcome of kindness rather than conditionality.
Secondly, where we have opportunity, we should gently teach and correct – to speak of the Gospel and the God of Creation, Redemption and Eternal Life. God may well bring people to repentance.
“Serving with kindness” is extremely important
Blessings
Brian
[1] 2 Timothy 2:24–26