Luke 10
My thoughts on Luke 10 came in the form of a Sunday teaching yesterday. The story that received the most attention from me was Luke 10:25-37. The story is commonly knows as the Good Samaritan story. Jesus cuts across the cultural version of love where we reach out to those like us and calls us to a REAL LOVE that risks our lives, offers concrete care and advocates for those most different than us.
You can listen here if you'd like.
Showing posts with label Kindess/Goodness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindess/Goodness. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, September 13, 2010
Romans 2:1-4 :: Dark Spiral Downward
Romans 2:1-4
What a great way to start our Monday morning, eh? This is one of those passages that simply hits me right between the eyes. In my shadow (you know that dark place that everyone has), I am critical, cynical and judgmental. I work on it, but too often it creeps up and into my thoughts. My wife knows this shadow-self all too well. This sort of judgment is really a judgment of myself. I very rarely stop and think that my criticism of others may simply be a way of escaping detection of something in my own life. Who really wants to stop and listen to that? Don't we know that God sees all and isn't fooled by our slight-of-hand tactics? Sure we do. Then why do we continue to fall into this trap of self-deception?
I may be tempted to see my error and assume that God's grace will trump that no matter what, which I do, and believe that he will just let it slide. Paul indicates this is not at all the case, though. God's kindness does not just let us do whatever we want to do, no matter how damaging to others or to ourselves. The kindness of God is what leads us to repentance. His kindness is what "takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change (v. 4)." So, I cannot simply look past my criticism and take it lightly. Father wants me to change. He wants me to not condemn. He wants my kindness to lead somewhere because His kindness does.
We would be a better community of Christ-followers if we began to live out the implications of this passage. We would be a better community if we stopped our criticism and offered kindness instead. Whether it's the neighbor who plays his music too loud too late, or the co-worker who gossips all the time, God has called us to look first at our own lives before worrying about theirs. When I am able to do this, I find that I don't have time to worry about theirs.
Here is a little tune that might help you keep this in mind today...there are better recordings, but the lyrics on this one are clear...
What a great way to start our Monday morning, eh? This is one of those passages that simply hits me right between the eyes. In my shadow (you know that dark place that everyone has), I am critical, cynical and judgmental. I work on it, but too often it creeps up and into my thoughts. My wife knows this shadow-self all too well. This sort of judgment is really a judgment of myself. I very rarely stop and think that my criticism of others may simply be a way of escaping detection of something in my own life. Who really wants to stop and listen to that? Don't we know that God sees all and isn't fooled by our slight-of-hand tactics? Sure we do. Then why do we continue to fall into this trap of self-deception?
I may be tempted to see my error and assume that God's grace will trump that no matter what, which I do, and believe that he will just let it slide. Paul indicates this is not at all the case, though. God's kindness does not just let us do whatever we want to do, no matter how damaging to others or to ourselves. The kindness of God is what leads us to repentance. His kindness is what "takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life change (v. 4)." So, I cannot simply look past my criticism and take it lightly. Father wants me to change. He wants me to not condemn. He wants my kindness to lead somewhere because His kindness does.
We would be a better community of Christ-followers if we began to live out the implications of this passage. We would be a better community if we stopped our criticism and offered kindness instead. Whether it's the neighbor who plays his music too loud too late, or the co-worker who gossips all the time, God has called us to look first at our own lives before worrying about theirs. When I am able to do this, I find that I don't have time to worry about theirs.
Here is a little tune that might help you keep this in mind today...there are better recordings, but the lyrics on this one are clear...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Core Virtue::Kindness/Goodness
We choose to do the right things in our relationships with others.
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Kindness/Goodness is the art of being others-oriented in action. It's focusing our attention on what we can do to help someone else, to make someone else feel special, or comfortable, or valued. It's expressed in little things like text messages or Hallmark cards, and it's big things like sacrifices of time, money, and resources in the interest of others.
Too often, we define goodness as being not bad: if we avoid the bad things, then we're good. Not so. Goodness is proactive, seeking good for others. If we are satisfied to just avoid being bad, we won't be known as "good people." In fact, we may not even be known at all. You can be moral and very unkind--many Christians are. But if God produces kindness and goodness in us, it will express itself in the way we treat those around us, and it will be noticed.
I had a great conversation recently with a newcomer to our church. He was excited about what he had experienced at the Springs, and was very interested in bringing his kids to our Sunday gatherings. "I want my kids to be around good people," he said. I can't think of a better compliment. That's how we want to be known in our community.
This core virtue is related to the following core beliefs:Humanity, Compassion
This core virtue is related to the following core practices:Biblical Community, Giving Away My Time, Giving Away My Money, Giving Away My Faith
Parenting this virtue:
One of the great things about kindness and goodness is that they work on any scale, large or small. Kids can learn their value when even the smallest expressions of them are valued at home. Partner with your kids to express kindness and goodness to other family members. Surprise your spouse or another sibling with an unexpected kindness. Then, as the kids grow older, this virtue can be expressed outside the home, in the neighborhood and community. It makes a big difference if your kids see you taking time, energy, and resources to express kindness to neighbors and people in need.
One of the great things about kindness and goodness is that they work on any scale, large or small. Kids can learn their value when even the smallest expressions of them are valued at home. Partner with your kids to express kindness and goodness to other family members. Surprise your spouse or another sibling with an unexpected kindness. Then, as the kids grow older, this virtue can be expressed outside the home, in the neighborhood and community. It makes a big difference if your kids see you taking time, energy, and resources to express kindness to neighbors and people in need.
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