Kindness

[GreenMunchkin]

kind·ness (k

nd

n

s)n.

1. The quality or state of being kind.
2. An instance of kind behavior: I will always remember your many kindnesses to me.


How important is kindness within Christianity?

 

[sleepythesahm]

I think kindness is vital. christ himself was the personification of kind, and god; well, you dont get much more kind and loving than the holy father.So for that reason alone, it is important for us to be kind,especially as we quest to like godpleasing christian lives.
Also,I think if you are always kind to people, others will see that and find you "approachable", enabling you to witness and show gods love. I think its important to be kind (even to people who arent being kind to you) because the bible commands it (several times) and because even at the end,christ was kind in words and action.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

I agree... except, when Jesus turned over the tables, and referred to people as snakes or fools - He wasn't being kind as we understand it to be today. But He was being wholly loving.

Are being loving and being kind the same thing?

 

[MrJim]

I agree... except, when Jesus turned over the tables, and referred to people as snakes or fools - He wasn't being kind as we understand it to be today. But He was being wholly loving.

Are being loving and being kind the same thing?

Eh, when I'm punishing my boys for something they don't think it very kind nor loving

 

[Ryft]

How important is kindness within Christianity?

That depends entirely upon the nature of kindness and the motive behind it. It is possible for kindness to be utterly sinful, like a God-denying kindness found in Secular Humanism. That sort of kindness is not terribly important within Christianity.

It is important within Christianity only when it's for Christ's sake and consistent with the gospel.

 

[sleepythesahm]

Eh, when I'm punishing my boys for something they don't think it very kind nor loving

but you are.I think thats how god is.

I agree... except, when Jesus turned over the tables, and referred to people as snakes or fools - He wasn't being kind as we understand it to be today. But He was being wholly loving.
Theres a far meaner way he couldve handled that though.
Are being loving and being kind the same thing?

Sometimes.at the very least,theyre closely related

 

[ChristianCritic]

kind·ness (k

nd

n

s)n.

1. The quality or state of being kind.
2. An instance of kind behavior: I will always remember your many kindnesses to me.


How important is kindness within Christianity?

Sometimes we should be kind, but sometimes we should be unkind.

 

[KleinerApfel]

Sometimes we should be kind, but sometimes we should be unkind.

Love is patient, love is kind....etc.

 

[Duihou]

There is that cliche: "Cruel to be kind". I suppose kindness is behaviour which ultimately has a positive, nurturing effect on the recipient, and which does not have a motive of gain for the giver. There is the inherent need for wisdom involved in kindness, or else what appears to be kind may actually lead to negativity in the future.

Love is that which causes and maintains unity, with the general idea of wanting happiness and fulfillment for the person who is loved.

Within Christianity acts of kindness (without any sense of gratification), such as the Good Samaritan, are part of what being Christian is all about.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

OK can humans please stop trying to twist words to justify themselves for being less than loving and less than kind, please?

The KJV may not list kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit by name, but what else would be implied by "longsuffering, gentleness, goodness...meekness..."?

We also have this command in Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
​

Regardless of semantics this makes it pretty clear what's required and expected, so let's cut the con-games trying to spin some excuse for being unkind to others and calling it "kindness" through twisted little word games and head games over meaning, shall we? We ALL know in our hearts when we have been snitty to someone, when we have been harsh or unkind with them -- at least, those who have hearts at all know, and IMO the rest don't count or matter. Bottom line goes like this: when you willingly and deliberately disregard MY feelings and call that perfectly OK or even worse, call that "holy" and "right for God" somehow, you've just given up every single right you ever had to expect me to care about yours. If that bes what you want then go for it but you will not like the results and maybe then you'll learn the importance -- and true meaning! -- of kindness.

Or maybe not. Some people just never learn, because they think they already know.

Disclaimer: This post represents a rant in general about the subject, and bes not directed personally at anyone here regardless of their POV, whether they agree or disagree.

 

[brinny]

OK can humans please stop trying to twist words to justify themselves for being less than loving and less than kind, please?

The KJV may not list kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit by name, but what else would be implied by "longsuffering, gentleness, goodness...meekness..."?

We also have this command in Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
​

Regardless of semantics this makes it pretty clear what's required and expected, so let's cut the con-games trying to spin some excuse for being unkind to others and calling it "kindness" through twisted little word games and head games over meaning, shall we? We ALL know in our hearts when we have been snitty to someone, when we have been harsh or unkind with them -- at least, those who have hearts at all know, and IMO the rest don't count or matter. Bottom line goes like this: when you willingly and deliberately disregard MY feelings and call that perfectly OK or even worse, call that "holy" and "right for God" somehow, you've just given up every single right you ever had to expect me to care about yours. If that bes what you want then go for it but you will not like the results and maybe then you'll learn the importance -- and true meaning! -- of kindness.

Or maybe not. Some people just never learn, because they think they already know.

Disclaimer: This post represents a rant in general about the subject, and bes not directed personally at anyone here regardless of their POV, whether they agree or disagree.

It is written that even the kindness of the unrighteousness is evil.