Good News Sense

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”—I Thessalonians 5:15

This world is filled with incompetence and injustice; some people fail to do their work well, and some people freely mistreat others through bias and favoritism. Those who have authority misuse it and mistreat those under their power. Those who have important responsibilities carry them out carelessly and ineptly. The unbelieving world often fails to value excellence in favor of other values, but Christians are, far too often, equally guilty of unacceptable behavior.

What should people do who suffer difficulty and loss from the sins and shortcomings of others? How should we handle stupidity and unfairness? Should Christians, who recognize a call to honor God with our best, confront or refuse to accept those who clearly give less? Does love require we accept shoddy or shameful work? Is “righteous indignation” an appropriate response to underachievers or to abusive tyrants? Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t handle such situations very well. With little wise reflection, we get angry and react harshly. When we do, we rarely solve problems; at the same time, we demonstrate a lack of the very love that our Lord desires we display.

For the benefit of those less spiritually mature, let’s talk about effectiveness first. Lashing out at someone rarely produces a good result. If the offending person or group is functioning poorly, then criticism is likely to produce anger, defensiveness, or both. Just think of how you respond to being attacked, criticized, or humiliated. Is the more common response agreement? “Oh, I see. You’re right. I’m doing an awful job.” No, the typical reaction is self-protection and retaliation.

In the case of mean, evil, and oppressive people–if such a classification is more than a rarity, the likely reaction to disrespect or anger is even greater harshness. Most of us understand this better than we care to admit, for we are all guilty of unkindness, which is why an unkind response comes so easily to us. Ego and hatred lie within most of us, if we are honest enough to acknowledge them.

However, for Christians, the measure of our response is whether it is Christ-like. Certainly, he could lash out in righteous anger, usually against those called to lead God’s people who abused their position. Plainly, though, he calls us to love.  This is more than “being nice.”  In my experience, “nice” people too often cover their meanness and spite with a thin veneer of false pleasantness.  Once a person’s back is turned, the nastiness spews forth.  That is clearly not love!

Love seeks the good of their other person, despite what they may have done or failed to do.  If the poorly performing person is an unbeliever, our love may be the key to their redemption, perhaps followed by improved performance.  If the person who disappoints or harms us is a professing believer, our love may be an important bridge to healing they need.

Let’s be honest, though, and recognize that some will never be as good, effective, or pleasant as we want.  Even then, love is the appropriate response.  Jesus loved the children, and children cannot do very much yet.  Jesus loved the broken-hearted, the handicapped, and the most despised, like that tax-collector, whom he called as a disciple, or the other, in whose home he ate dinner.  I believe love is redemptive, but regardless we are to love, not just be nice, but love sincerely with the very love of Christ.  This isn’t warm and fuzzy but something real, as Paul wrote:  “Love is patient.  Love is kind.”