Kindness<\/a> is an act that shows consideration and caring.\u00a0 We express kindness across a full spectrum of behavior from performing unexpected acts for others to simply holding our tongue when someone insults us.\u00a0 The biggest issue in kindness is a setting aside of our pride and self-centeredness.<\/p>\nHumility<\/h2>\n
The world in general takes a dim view of humility, believing that it means making yourself into a doormat or others.\u00a0 Again, this trait hinges on our ability to set aside pride \u2013 the need to exert our own will \u2013 and accept or at least consider the position and opinions of others.\u00a0 It does not mean we must always subjugate ourselves, it means we consider our response and act and speak out of love, not anger.<\/p>\n
While Jesus was being interrogated by Pontius Pilot, He made a statement that angered a guard, who slapped Jesus.\u00a0 The response of Jesus gave birth to the saying, \u201cturn the other cheek\u201d.\u00a0 Jesus did not present his other cheek and invite more abuse, but responded by asking, calmly, why the guard struck Him when he only spoke the truth.<\/p>\n
Gentleness<\/h2>\n
Gentleness is a lack of rough talk or behavior.\u00a0 Gentleness is the way we would stroke a baby\u2019s cheek.\u00a0 When we treat one another with gentleness we are mindful that words and actions can be hurtful, and we strive to avoid hurting.<\/p>\n
Patience<\/h2>\n
This is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.\u00a0 It is the bearing of misfortune or pain without complaint, loss of temper, or irritation.\u00a0 It means not reacting hastily to a situation or statement.\u00a0 Patience does not mean we are to sit idly, waiting for someone else to handle a situation.\u00a0 Nor does it mean we are to be indifferent to the needs of others, or to our own needs.\u00a0 It means we are to consider a situation carefully before reacting.<\/p>\n
The Christian Difference<\/h1>\n
When taking a secular course on how to become a great entrepreneur or leader, these traits are rarely taught or accepted.\u00a0 The world values decisiveness and bold actions.\u00a0 Fast decisions, ruthlessness and high pressure lifestyles signify secular leadership.<\/p>\n
When we follow God\u2019s decrees and mold ourselves to the example of Jesus; when we clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience we set ourselves apart \u2013 stand out from the world.\u00a0 Some will ridicule and malign us for our non-conformity.\u00a0 Others will take note; much as the Roman citizens of the first few centuries did, that this is a better way to treat one another.<\/p>\n
For non-Christians adopting some of these principles may make their lives more enjoyable.\u00a0 For Christians, it is our dress-code.<\/p>\n
David Jeremiah summed up this thought nicely in a recent daily inspiration. “Christians aren’t the only people who show sacrificial love to others, but they are the only ones for whom love is supposed to be their defining characteristic.\u00a0 Jesus made that clear to His disciples: The way the world is supposed to identify us as His followers is by the love we have for one another.\u00a0\u00a0 And the apostle John took it a step further: if we say we are followers of Jesus but don’t have love, we are liars<\/em>.”<\/p>\nAt the very least, being dressed as this passage in Colossians states should make people wonder, “Why does that person love so generously?” Then we can tell them: “Because Jesus first loved me.” (1 John 4:19).<\/p>\n
“Faith without love is no living grace, and love without faith is no saving grace<\/em>.”
\n~ William Burkitt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What a person wears can sometimes tell us a fair bit about them. Someone in a uniform can be identified as a police officer, utility worker, fire fighter, or soldier. Someone in an expensive power suit is likely a business person. Sometimes clothing can tell us something about a person’s beliefs; A nun’s habit or … Continue reading “What Do Christians Wear?”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[57],"class_list":["post-5625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-matters-of-faith","tag-religion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5625"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21178,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625\/revisions\/21178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pineymountainfoster.org\/thoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"clothing,](\"http:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7302\/9674170030_0e5516fc10_d.jpg\")
What a person wears can sometimes tell us a fair bit about them.\u00a0 Someone in a uniform can be identified as a police officer, utility worker, fire fighter, or soldier.\u00a0 Someone in an expensive power suit is likely a business person.\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes clothing can tell us something about a person\u2019s beliefs; A nun\u2019s habit or priest\u2019s collar, robes and shaved head of a Buddhist monk, the crisp white shirt and black tie & trousers commonly worm by Mormons working a neighborhood all tip us off to what they hold to be true about religion.<\/p>\n