My inner nerd will be revealed in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Let's talk about one of my favorite hero tales--- Star Wars. My 5 year old son would agree with me that it is an outstanding saga. It is amazing to me how pervasive God's truth is, that we can even see it in such a grandly fictitious work as Star Wars. What truth is that? I'm glad you asked.
In Star Wars, Yoda, the wise elderly Jedi, denied training young Anakin Skywalker because he said the young man harbored too much fear. Of course, he was trained anyway and became the evil Darth Vader. What Yoda understood is that fear is the path to anger. Anger is the path to the dark side.
I know your thinking, what is this fool talking about. Continue reading. In our series on agape love, you will remember that we are discussing the idea that 'love is kind'. I would suggest to the reader that kindness, contrary to popular belief, is not weakness. If fear leads to anger--- and from my experience it does; then kindness, as it is manifested in agape love, cannot have fear as its root. True kindness and anger are on opposite ends of the spectrum. If fear is the root, then kindness cannot be the fruit. Jesus said we will know a tree by its fruit. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Fear and anger cannot produce kindness.
What then can we say is the root of kindness, if not weakness, or fear. Agape love is the root of true kindness. Love allows us to be kind to those that hate us. It allows us to be salt and light to those who spit in our faces. When we have experienced God's unconditional love, and we really understand Jesus' sacrifice; then that love gives us the strength to be kind in the face of every circumstance. Not from a place of weakness, or timidity, but out of a strong love built upon an immovable fortress that is God. If you are still having trouble understanding the strength it takes to be kind, then look at this last illustration.
One day I went to work and I walked around all day with noticeable breakfast residue on my face. I didn't realize it till I got home and really looked in the mirror. In the course of a day I come in contact with literally hundreds of people who know my name. No one told me. What people did was allow me to walk around looking foolish so that they would not have to be uncomfortable when they told me I had egg on my face. For some horrible reason we have come to believe that being kind means we don't tell people when something is askew, or amiss.
My question is this---what if my fly was open, or my shoe was untied? What if I was about to step on a slick spot on a hard floor? What if I was engaging in some sort of destructive behavior that was legal, but immoral? Would anyone counsel me then?! If we were kind to each other and not cowards then we would tell each other the truth in love. Kindness requires a fortitude that we don't have naturally. True kindness that comes from agape love is strong and unyielding. It says and does kind things even if the recipient of the kindness does not receive it well. Is it unkind to tell your brother or sister when they are doing something that will lead to their eternal damnation? Is it kinder to allow them to proceed down a path to destruction, while you remain silent?!!!! Kindness is not weak.
When that coworker is wearing that dress that is too revealing--- do you tell her ladies?
When that buddy's drinking is getting out of control---do you let him know gentlemen?
When that child is spending way too much time playing video games do you put a stop to it parents?
When that lost soul is falling deeper into the enemies grip, do you share your faith Christian?
If you are a Christian and you know the truth, how much do you have to hate someone to not tell them about Jesus?
The kindness that springs forth from agape love allows us to share the truth of the gospel with the unsaved. It provides us with the courage necessary to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done, regardless of how uncomfortable it makes us.
