Do you have the virus?
I’m not talking about the flu or this year’s strain of Coronavirus. I’m talking about the malady called “Must Be Right.”
Christians have a biblical mandate to be and do right before God and man. But too many of us have adopted the world's standard of polarized conduct toward those who differ from us.
So, we become not only aggressive but, at times, abrasive. As Bible-believing Christians…
We are right about the doctrine of salvation by faith alone.
We are right about the inerrancy of Scripture.
We are right about the sacredness of life.
We are right about the biblical standards of sexual conduct.
These are all foundational issues, for sure. But in our thirst for "rightness," have we lost our capacity for kindness? James 2:13 warns, "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
Speaking to the Pharisees in Matthew 9:13, Jesus quoted His Father: “Now go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I’m not saying we should sacrifice doctrinal purity or moral clarity on the altar of “let’s-all-just-get-along.” I’m simply arguing that there’s a place for kindness.
Yes, our view on any given issue might well be more “right” than someone else’s, biblically speaking. But if we can’t be kind, does it matter?
Jesus never shied away from speaking, doing, teaching, and preaching what was right. But He always led with kindness.
It’s important to be right, for sure.
But let’s first be kind.
