Lifestyle Evangelism is . . . A Kind Word.

Have you ever noticed how angry some people are in our world? Angry words are often exchanged instead of nice pleasantries. One person says something which is misunderstood by another and then there are words of retaliation. The idea is to speak harsher words in order to inflict further hurt and perhaps more pain on the other person. As words of anger escalate, sometimes it even gets to the point of fists swinging and, as we have seen or heard, even to people being killed.

Therefore, how does one respond to another when there is a misunderstanding or when harsh words are spoken? The once wise King Solomon, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Some have paraphrased these words by saying, “Kill them with kindness.” The fact of the matter is, it works. When someone speaks harshly or rudely, they are usually taken aback and perhaps even ashamed, when those words are met with words of kindness, that is with sincere words of kindness.

We could meet the world head on, which it probably deserves. We would be justified in speaking meanly to others as we have been spoken meanly to; yet, here I would remind you of our lesson on the Golden Rule. However, we are not of this world. We are of our Father’s world, and we represent our Father as ambassadors. As ambassadors for Christ, we want to represent Him and live as He would live, move and have His being, in other words, and we can only do so with His help; then, we will speak kind words in order to turn away any wrath which is directed toward us. We will also understand that, very often, harsh words of wrath which are spoken to us as Christians are really being spoken to Christ who lives in us. Unfortunately, that is the way of the world.

How easy to respond in kind. How difficult to turn the other cheek. Only with Christ’s help are we able to do the right thing which, in turn, shows the faith that is in our hearts and reflects Christ’s love to others.

26 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs