Kindness or Permissiveness

April 4, 2023

There is something that bothers me about kind people, especially us Christians who claim to have been born anew by the Holy Spirit of the Bible. Kindness is certainly a noble quality which people express to others. It prods us to accept people as they are.

But therein lies the hitch.

It causes many to stumble when they tend to go beyond kindness to accepting everyone’s behaviors and approving their peculiar tendencies which are clearly stated in the Bible as activities that separate people from God and the eternal life He is otherwise most ready to bestow in all who turn to Him. In fact, for example, if anyone is stuck in any addiction, is it a kindness to accept that as a harmless condition? Isn’t it rather that a truly kind person would provide treatment? Any person, Christian or not, knows the moral answer to that question. “There, but by the grace of God, go I.”

What people don’t seem to understand or keep in mind is that God, as the loving Father that He is, wants the best for us, with no harm coming our way. If only we all would listen to Him. I know that it would be frustrating for me if my children refused to listen to my advice when I know from experience that it would prevent heartache or something much more harmful to overtake them.

Perhaps some grew up in a dysfunctional family, and they cannot imagine any situation where kindness reigns, and they are condemned to an endless journey- an endless and dangerous journey in pursuit of acceptance, thinking simple acceptance equals real love. So, they ignore apparent dangers, because they are so desperately searching for love.

So, my fellow Bible believing Christians, don’t show approval for those things disapproved by God, because those pursuits drive a wedge between them and God, and they infuse far more harm into their lives than you might imagine. You must understand that blind approval is not showing God’s love for the world. We are supposed to have our eyes wide open. It is actually an arrogant mindset that we are wiser than God and that we know what is best for everyone.

Perhaps we too were prone to seeking acceptance, “seeking love in all the wrong places.” Perhaps it goes back to Jesus’ parable about getting the plank out of our own eyes…”And that is what some of you were. But you were washed…”

We should be encouraging people to turn to God, since we ought to know who they need to be embracing.

Herein lies that wedge separating us from the love of God that is in Jesus. We want to make it easier for folks. We wish the process was shorter and less demanding. Unfortunately, this ignores the availability of the healing process of the Holy Spirit, ignoring all the personal injuries to people that cause such anguish and agony within their lives. That is not found in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan. Do we forget the key to the door to answers and to resolutions and healings remains hidden. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

So, we must be straight with people, not letting sympathy or empathy overwhelm, to stroke egos or give tacit approval to errant behaviors.

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” — 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, NIV

Don’t let your kindness metamorphose into reckless permissiveness. That isn’t the true agapē love for our neighbors that Jesus encourages and demands of us. Rather tell people sinfulness equals harmfulness to themselves and to others. God’s precepts and laws are for our benefit, not our imprisonment. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” — John 3:17.

“If any lack wisdom, ask our generous God who supplies to all abundantly…” — James 1:5.

Patty and I came to a place where we discovered this all is true. We entered through the door, because we realized He was inviting us in to find shelter from the encroaching darkness.