> Wednesday, July 29, 2020
In the Interest of Kindness, Let’s Fix this Placard!
There is a popular placard that seems to be spreading like wildfire, and, frankly, it has some good things to say if it is properly understood. Our problem is that folks have been mixing a whole lot of error into these statements and then using them as mantras. So, in the interest kindness love for one another, we thought we’d suggest a few corrections.
IN THIS HOUSE WE BELIEVE. First, we need to be upfront about this title. We all need a starting point for our beliefs, a consistent foundation from which to reason. Otherwise, what we believe will end up being very self-contradictory, kind of like this placard. God has been reasoning with us since day one! His reasoning has always been consistent. Now, God’s values have always been misconstrued as evil. Notice what Joshua’s parting words were to his people:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NKJV
So, using Joshua’s words, let’s strengthen the title on this placard and say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” The man who truly reasons his way from who God is and what God says, will find that his values will be consistent, kind, and loving. So, let’s start right there!
SCIENCE IS REAL. Of course, true science is real because true science follows the data, like it or not!
So, we need to strengthen this claim. The conclusions we make about the data we collect, well, they aren’t always true science! Take, for example, when scientists tell us our creation was not intelligently designed or that the life forces in our creation somehow just carry themselves forward in super intelligent ways that could not have happened spontaneously - well folks, that’s just not science! Why, that’s blind faith! That’s just plain old religion. We must follow the data. It's just not kind to deceive ourselves and our children. So, let’s fix this. True science is true to the data!
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? Psalm 8:3,4 NKJV
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. We need to fix this, not because women do not have rights, but because no one’s rights exist in a vacuum. If women are human then it just makes sense that they have human rights that should be protected. As to what separates women’s rights from the rights of men, children, old folks, and babies, now that’s a matter for careful discussion so that all rights are respected. For example, unborn babies are human too. They aren’t baboons or whales, they are very much human. Babies’ rights are human rights. So, if we believe human rights we would never want to rob an unborn or newly born child of the right to live. That would be just plain, old fashioned killing. That’s not very loving. That’s not kind. So let’s remind ourselves unborn babies have human rights too.
For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13,14 NKJV
BLACK LIVES MATTER. This statement is certainly true but it does not stand alone. Now, if we believe that any life matters we believe that all life matters and we certainly would not classify folks by their color! Color has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Folks of all colors and stripes (if that is possible) matter to God,who loves all men, and they should matter to us. If I love my neighbor as myself I don’t really notice his color. All colors matter equally and we must all defend each others rights equally. To do any less is to fall right into the trap of those who love to feed hatred and class warfare, and that’s not kind! We need to “put away,” bitterness and wrath and evil speaking (Ephesians 5:31,32).
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation...” Revelation 5:9 NKJV
NEWS ISN’T FAKE. Like science, news which does not follow the data or news which stresses one aspect of the facts over other aspects in order to manipulate us is fake. Fake news is so common we are inventing a whole new jargon to cope with it (we speak adversarial journalism and adversarial networking or fake photography, and the list goes on). News is agenda driven because it is filtered by our biases as humans. When folks overtly engineer the news, even for good causes, well, that’s not very kind. So let’s bias ourselves with kindness. True news incites peace, not class warfare.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:2,3
Oh, and for the record, here is some very good news!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. We’re all on equal footing before God, and His same gift of redemption is available to us all.
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL. We need to fix this because while no human is illegal, humans do behave illegally. If that were not the case, we would not have law enforcement, something which, again, God has ordained for our benefit. How we treat those who violate the law so that justice and fairness are measured out with kindness and consideration is a problem we all face. If I steal, I am a thief. God still loves me, but he never condones anarchy. That would never be kind. It is better for us to say anarchy is never legal.
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities... Romans 13:1 NKJV
LOVE IS LOVE. We need to fix this because it is a silly truism. To suggest that love is love is to say absolutely everything and absolutely nothing in the same sentence. Love, in its purest form makes every effort to be wise and discerning. It compels us to do what is best for the object of our love. True love always has her eyes wide open, though folks who feel they are in love are not always so wise. Throughout history, God has warned us about many practices which are harmful. We call these practices sin. In truth, all sin is the result of our failure to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot stop folks from doing what they will do, but we’re not very kind when we fail to warn others about practices that God says will harm them. True love is discerning love.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 NKJV
KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING. So, if kindness is everything, we should be kind in everything we do. Kindness is nothing unless it is truthful, it respects all rights and colors, it hates all violence and lawbreaking, and is discerning in love.
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:35 NKJV
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