THE VIRTUE OF KINDNESS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savioir,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE VIRTUE OF KINDNESS IN THE
SPIRITUAL LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN.

What is a virtue?

A virtue is "a righteous characteristic such as a SELF-CONTROL, PATIENCE, OR
HUMILITY; the opposite of VICE or PASSION. As a person (a Christian) grows
spiritually , he or she GROWS IN VIRTUEs while the passions are conquered by the
grace of God. [see Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:2-7]

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on
these things" [Philippians 4:8].

"As His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us BY GLORY AND VIRTUE…But also
for this very reason, giving all diligence, ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE, TO VIRTUE
KNOWLEDGE, TO KNOWLEDGE SELF-CONTROL, TO SELF-CONTROL PERSEVERANCE,
TO PERSEVERANCE GODLINESS, TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS, AND
TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS LOVE" [2 Peter 1:3-7].

How do we who know Christ grow in our participation in the divine nature through grace? By the cultivation of a progression of SPIRITUAL QUALITIES. As in "VIRTUE" refers to the commitment, conviction, and courage striving always to attain moral excellence. "Agape" ("Love") is connected to "brotherly kindness" (affection among Christians), because love of God CANNOT BE PERFECTED EXCEPT THROUGH LOVE OF ONE’S NEIGHBOR [see 1 John 4:20].

The Greek word for kindness or goodness is καλωσύνη [kalosyni]. This wonderful virtue is so necessary in today’s world which is filled with cruelty and meanness. No Christian can claim spirituality if he or she does not possess kindness in his/her heart. In other words one cannot claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ and be cruel and vicious to another human being. The practicing Christian is always gentle and loving. We are reminded by Holy Apostle Paul that kindness is "a fruit of the Spirit" [Galatians 5:22]. One needs to think of our Lord Christ and how He spoke to everyone, how He dealt with even His enemies or sinners, how He dealt with His disciples that either denied Him, abandoned Him, or betrayed Him. The Lord Himself calls all of us when He says, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, FOR I AM GENTLE and LOWLY IN HEART, and you will find rest for your souls" [Matthew 11:29]. The Holy Apostle Timothy says, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, GENTLENESS" [1 Timothy 6:11].

Orthodox Christianity exhorts the faithful to emulate or imitate Christ and to be as kind, gentle, obedient, merciful, forgiving, and compassionate as He is to all of His children. Even when Christ corrected someone, it was done lovingly, and gently, and not by either force or threats. No one will ever agree to change when an authority figure, a teacher, a judge, a religious leader, sets out to demean and humiliate him or her in the process. However, a gentle person has respect for others and uses good methods to encourage the person to change that are supportive and positive instead of using intimidation and coercion. One with good intentions is sensitive and considers the feelings of others and avoids dictating or insulting the person needing guidance.

Kindness takes different forms such as patience, tolerance, forgiveness, tenderness and especially understanding. There are many examples where poor people have been mistreated because of their poverty or being uneducated. A good person is never judgmental of others and considers their situation and whether the person is suffering from mental illness, physical disability, emotional distress, lack of cognitive ability or reason, intellectually handicapped, depression, and to act accordingly. It takes a special kind of a person to be able to discern the situation and to be willing to take the necessary time to help this human being. Furthermore, a kind person will correct others, if need be, and his very kindness will be proven by his care and concern for the health of his fellow man. Any kind of resentment or anger is wrong and unacceptable.

"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, GENTLENESS" [1 Timothy 5:11]. Helping all kinds of people in need is an act of kindness. The Holy Apostles not only taught and preached Christ but they also served people in need such as the widows. "Then the Twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over "to serve tables." In other words to feed the hungry. Our LordGod Jesus Christ taught the people how significant it is to help others. "When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME" [Matthew 25:38-40]. Those of us who show no kindness, no compassion, no love for our fellow man are condemned "to everlasting punishment" [v. 46], "but the righteous into eternal life" [v. 46].

Kindness is not only giving a person a plate of food or a slice of bread but it is offering one’s self without conditions or demands. You help others by building up their self-esteem, confidence in themselves, making them feel important no matter what they are going through, whether they’re struggling to overcome an addiction, illness, depression, poverty, or mental illness. psychological, emotional, or physical disability, No one wants to add to the problems of the individual and make the person’s struggle worse than before. Unfortunately there are people with ‘good intentions’ who lack discernment or sound judgment that in the process of helping cause further injury to the person they try to help. All first responders must be trained to be extremely careful before they are assigned to assist those in danger.

Our Lord’s Earthly Ministry reveals His unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and gentleness. We, as Orthodox Christians, must learn from Him how to treat others who are vulnerable. It is not what we offer to the person in need that counts, but also, how we do it. In other words, the attitude and words that we use to communicate our intent. People who are faced with all kinds of impediments and challenges have feelings too. It is wrong to attempt to help someone if we don’t take into account the person’s emotional and psychological or spiritual condition. No one should have the power to crush anyone’s spirit and dignity. The person who needs help is a child of God and we must always respect that, and have it in mind. Our Lord sees everything that we do and knows a person’s intent of all that he does.

Be kind to all people and pray for them. Our world needs more kindness and love for one another. Needless to say, the world that we live in is tragically filled with cruelty, neglect, pain, injustice, brutality, murder of the innocent, persecution, and unending wars. As Christians we have a commandment from our Lord and Redeemer, and by His grace, to turn things around. To free the world from hatred, evil, violence, and all other vices and acts. Our God created a beautiful world and put man in charge of it to take care of it. His will has never changed and will never change. It is His creation and will always be His. Mankind is also a part of creation, created "in His image and likeness." God awaits for us to be obedient to His will and to work together with Him to fulfill His Divine and Great Plan. Saint Isaac of Syria speaks on the all-embracing love and kindness of God. "The ‘merciful heart’ in a human person is therefore the image and likeness of God’s mercy, which embraces the whole of creation — people, animals, reptiles, and demons. In God, there is no hatred towards anyone, but all-embracing love which does not distinguish between righteous and sinner, between a friend of truth and an enemy of truth, between Angel and demon. Every created being is precious in God’s eyes." This non-discriminating and all-embracing love and kindness of God is what we Orthodox Christians strive to emulate in our own lives.

______
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George