Lately I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be kind.  Nothing can destroy a relationship faster than being unkind and nothing can heal a relationship and cause it to grow like kindness.  I believe it is the one nurturing trait that is common to causing all forms of love to grow [agape (self- sacrificing), storge (protective), phileo (brotherly) and eros (romance/sex)].  The bible has a lot to say about the need to be kind and the relationship to the loving-kindness of God.  In Galations 5, Paul provides two lists that delineate the differences between Christians and non-Christians, believers and unbelievers, people who put their faith in God and people who put their faith in money.  As you read through the lists, the differences are evident (v.19) among people who practice (v.21) such things.  The word practice got my attention.  Paul provides a list of immoral behavior and indicates that if a person’s life can be characterized by these behaviors, then it is evident that this is not a fellow believer.  He then lists out the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc and tell us to walk by the Spirit (v.25).  So as I think about kindness, it is not just things we do from time to time, i.e. Christmas time, but kindness should characterize the life of a Christian always, in season and out.

One of the things that got me thinking about all of this a bumper sticker that has become somewhat fashionable, you probably know the one.  In getting back to kindness as a way of life, I see a lot in scripture where we are commanded to be kind.  In Colossians 3:12 we are told to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience in dealing with each other and forgiving each other.  2Peter 1:5-7 is very enlightening.  Our love for one another grows out of kindness which grows out of godliness which results from knowing God’s word which starts with moral excellence through faith and the diligent application of this process.  So if our faith is genuine, we should apply a diligence to moral behavior not doing the things that grieve the Spirit (Gal.5), study the Bible which nourishes our souls and through word and prayer, communion with God can mold our person to attain to God’s moral character which is love.  Gal.5:25 tells us to “walk” by the Spirit, which means we are to have an active role in this process.  So while it is God’s Spirit working in us, it is the outward working of our faith that manifests in the fruit of kindness.  Titus 3:4 says “When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us not on the basis of things we have done to merit salvation, but because He is merciful.”  Did you get that, Kindness appeared in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There are many more scriptures about kindness, but I selected these few because of the way kindness is used.  Kindness is always used as an action or verb, an adjective to describe or as a noun.  This caught my attention because using kindness as a noun to describe God (Titus 3:4) or to describe Christians (Gal.5, 2Peter 1) demonstrates an inherent quality of a life, not just a random act.  Kindness is supposed to be who we are, not just what you do from time to time for whatever motivation that drives us that one time.  It is the quality that doesn’t ask the question “should I help” but rather “how can I help” or instinctively takes action to help, or comfort, or rejoice with those who rejoice, or weep with those who weep.  I seem to recognize (be convicted by) this more and more as we live in a world of great need; physical needs which are evident, emotional needs that call us out of our comfort zones and hope which is largely the greatest need of all people.  As vessels of mercy, God allows us to participate in the sharing of hope, so while convictions grow, I hope that kindness can be sown into my character through the diligent pursuit of knowing God.

Is kindness possible without God?  Yes, but only because we are made in God’s image to attain to God’s moral character and the word of God is written in our hearts (Romans 2).

Is kindness as a way of life possible without communion with God? No, not even a little.