Inward Goodness, Outward Kindness

“Be kind” campaigns have been popular in recent years. The phrase often pops up on yard signs, event banners, and social media hashtags. The idea is simple enough, communicating the desire for a more peaceful society in which we choose to be nice to others, rather than mean, vengeful, or judgmental. At the same time, the phrase is vague and subjective. What is kindness? How do we know if we’re being kind? How is kindness measured?

God is described in Scripture as the only One who is “good”: “No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19). He is the very nature, or character, of uprightness and honor. Apart from His Spirit living in us, we are not good or righteous (see Romans 3:10, 23). Only through His Spirit working in us can we be filled with goodness, and this means having the innate ability to judge between right and wrong—what’s good and what’s not—and even correct others who are not showing “goodness” (see Romans 15:14). Goodness is a fruit given by God to those who, through faith and trust in Jesus Christ, go from darkness to light, who are now able to discern what things are acceptable to the Lord (see Ephesians 5:8-10).

Those who are transformed by God’s goodness can glorify the name of Jesus Christ through their words and deeds (see 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). This can also be termed “kindness”: goodness in action. This, too, is not something that people can do apart from the Spirit’s work: “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). While “goodness” allows us to judge right from wrong and to know the way to salvation, “kindness” is a fruit of the Spirit that allows us to act toward someone in grace, tenderness, and compassion, desiring to show them that way.

Kindness, also, has been modeled by God, particularly through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His kindness was an act of mercy, providing salvation, regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit to all who would put their faith and trust in Jesus (Titus 3:4-5). This kindness of God allows us to have an eternal home in Heaven with Him (Ephesians 2:4-7). This requires us to turn away from our sinful nature and accept His gift of cleansing and salvation: “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Through the Holy Spirit in us, God displays His innate character of goodness and His acts of kindness toward others. He enables us to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him (see Micah 6:8), as we point others to the way of salvation.

 —Tricia Kline