Kindness

Don't be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love. The holy spirit makes you one in every way. So try your best to remain one. Let peace keep you together."

"Don't let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen. Do not make God's Holy spirit mourn. The Holy Spirit is the proof that you belong to God. And the Spirit is the proof that God will set you completely free. Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don't have anything to do with any kind of hatred. Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done."   (Ephesians 4: 2-3 29-32)

I recently read in an article, a Doctor asked a child he was treating what he wanted to be when he grows up. The boy paused and then replied he didn't know, but he knew he wanted to be kind. This story highlights the seemingly simple yet profound lessons written to the Ephesians.

It also reminds me of the lessons I am teaching and trying to live out on a daily basis.  And yet, they are lessons I need to be reminded of daily.  Corrections other people sometimes help me make. Completely gently and patiently of course.   Last week I had a concerned woman take offence to something I said theologically in a class I am teaching.  The statement was not what she believes in her heart as being an absolute truth to her.  It contradicted her faith belief.  

As a pastor it is my job to preach and teach the doctrine of the church as the Lutheran doctrines as written.  It is also my job to challenge people’s understandings and interpretation of scripture and of the power of God.  This is a way that we strengthen our belief and faith… it helps us grow stronger in what we think we believe… and why we believe it.  This woman did not see my statements as such.  I think she was accusing me of teaching false doctrine even though I wasn’t. However, this is not something anyone should take lightly.

After having a lengthy discussion it became obvious that I was not going to get to a moment where we could agree to disagree, so I needed to go a different route.  Kindness.  I needed to let her know I respected her faithfulness to her belief and that she was not wrong in her understanding.  I told her I was proud of her for sticking up to her faith. 

We left the conversation a bit un-finished but we ended with a mutual loving prayer.   I think she understood that I was pushing for growth in faith and not meaning to be a stumbling block.  I was going for faith seeking better understanding.  It’s ok to disagree with each other as long there remains mutual respect for one’s differences… and kindness toward one another.

We are human, let us be kind.  AMEN