Promote what is kind
Earlier this week, I walked into the clinic break room, ready to heat up my lunch. As always, the TV was tuned to the news, where they were discussing what to do with the Boston Marathon bomber's bodies. A conservative, Christian co-worker loudly remarked we shouldn't care. She said they deserved nothing, she spewed out hateful words towards them, their families, and the dealings with their now corpses.
Then, something amazing happened. Another co-worker looked right at her and said, "Honey, God may not have been in what they were doing, but he is not in what you are saying right now." My co-worker tried to argue her point, about how evil they were, about how they deserved to be treated like dogs, etc. etc. and my other colleague would not budge. "Coming back with hate is not accomplishing anything", she concluded.
I'm not debating calling that which is evil by it's name. I'm not debating the tragedy of what happened. But I will not debate that in that one moment, the Church did not stand for hate or unkindness within it's own Body.
Peter struck out with a sword at Jesus' arrest, and in his mind, he was justified. But justice by our definition alone is always off. Jesus' response is simply summarized here in Luke 22:51: "But Jesus said, 'No more of this.' And he touched the man’s ear and healed him."
It is easy to cast hate, violence, evil thoughts towards things we find unfair, the things we find ugly, or things that hurt us. What an amazing reminder for me this week that promoting kindness should always be my first thought, even when it's unfair. Isn't this the harder path? To always respond in love? Isn't that the path Jesus showed us?
Then, something amazing happened. Another co-worker looked right at her and said, "Honey, God may not have been in what they were doing, but he is not in what you are saying right now." My co-worker tried to argue her point, about how evil they were, about how they deserved to be treated like dogs, etc. etc. and my other colleague would not budge. "Coming back with hate is not accomplishing anything", she concluded.
I'm not debating calling that which is evil by it's name. I'm not debating the tragedy of what happened. But I will not debate that in that one moment, the Church did not stand for hate or unkindness within it's own Body.
Peter struck out with a sword at Jesus' arrest, and in his mind, he was justified. But justice by our definition alone is always off. Jesus' response is simply summarized here in Luke 22:51: "But Jesus said, 'No more of this.' And he touched the man’s ear and healed him."
It is easy to cast hate, violence, evil thoughts towards things we find unfair, the things we find ugly, or things that hurt us. What an amazing reminder for me this week that promoting kindness should always be my first thought, even when it's unfair. Isn't this the harder path? To always respond in love? Isn't that the path Jesus showed us?
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:8
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"
Romans 12:19
Comments
Post a Comment