The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, all-sufficient word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It contains the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25), the revealed will of God (John 17:7-8), and the gospel which is able to save our souls (Romans 1:16). Ultimately it is the message of the Bible that we will meet one day in judgment (John 12:48). So you would think, of all documents that have ever existed in our world, we would do well to pay attention to, accept, and obey it in every conceivable way. But of all the documents that have ever existed in our world there’s probably few that have been more widely ignored, scrutinized, attacked, and belittled than the Bible.
But I wonder if I were to ask you, “what is the most ignored verse in the Bible?” what would you say. Maybe you would point to some passage that emphasizes the oneness and peculiarity of the church. Perhaps you would look at passages like Mark 16:16 or Acts 2:38 that speak to the necessity of baptism. What about passages that speak to the purity and the participants in marriage, or some other moral issue that we are battling today? I would agree that all of these are problem areas that a vast majority of our world largely ignore. But if you were to ask me what I believe is easily one of the most ignored verses in the Bible at this point in our history I would probably point to Matthew 7:12 because somehow and in someway we have forgotten how to treat one another with a basic sense of kindness.
You remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 – “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” We call it the Golden Rule and the way we typically word it is “treat others the way you want to be treated.” So let me ask, how do you want to be treated? Words like “kindness,” “respect,” “civility,” and “love” come to mind. I don’t know any normal person that wants people to mistreat them, speak rudely to them, or be disrespectful or hateful to them in any way, even by those with whom they might have disagreements. And yet when you look at so much of our interaction with people around us (particularly on social media) with whom we share differences that’s the route that is taken.
We’ve got to do better. God expects better of us. And for us to make the impact in the world that we need to be make we have to do better. We need some blatant, in our face reminders of what the New Testament tells us about the absolute importance of kindness as a part of our very identity as Christians. Here are just a few:
- First, think about how kindness is mentioned as one of the essential qualities of a transformed child of God. Look at Colossians 3:12-15 – “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Did you notice that Paul said these are qualities that identify us as the “elect of God?” So in other words, if I’m not humble I’m really not living like a Christian. If I’m not meek I’m really not living like a Christian. And if I’m not kind I’m not really living like a Christian. Kindness is an essential quality of a transformed child of God and if I’m not kind then that says a lot about how seriously I take my faith.
- Second, think about kindness as a part of our new identity in Christ. In Ephesians 4:17ff Paul is talking about the changes that occur when we give our lives to Jesus and he does it with the imagery of our old identity dying and a new us being born again. When that happens it’s only natural that there be some old qualities we get rid of and some new qualities that we assume. Now look at verses 31-32 – “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” When we become Christians we’ve got to get rid of all of our bitterness and anger and evil speaking and start being kind to one another. Why? Because that’s what God did for us. He showed us kindness. So if I’m a Christian a part of my new identity in Christ is that I choose to be kind and if I don’t choose to be kind then I’m deliberately choosing to not be like Christ.
- Third, think about kindness as a tool that equips us to more effectively serve God. Peter included kindness among the Christian graces in 2 Peter 1:5-7 and said that “if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 8). Do we want to be fruitful workers for the Lord? If so Peter said it requires kindness. We can’t be hateful, vindictive people and expect the world around us to respond favorably to our attempts to reach them with the gospel. No, if we are going to be effective servants of God and lead souls to Jesus it’s going to take a heaping dose of kindness on our part.
I remember many years ago watching the movie “The Green Mile” and in that movie Michael Clarke Duncan’s character, John Coffey made the comment at one point, “I’m tired, boss. Mostly I’m tired of people being ugly to each other.” I can identify completely with those words. I’m tired of seeing the way people communicate with one another. I’m tired of seeing the way people treat one another. I’m tired of seeing the division that exists in our churches, in our communities, in our families, in our government institutions, and in our world. It’s enough to make you cry out in prayer and say, “Come quickly Lord Jesus!” But the only way to fix it is for us to remember the words of Matthew 7:12 and choose to be intentional in our kindness towards one another.
-Andy