As Christians, are we called to be NICE?

Do you think God is NICE?

From reading through both the old and new testaments, I don’t think so. I think we are called to be Christ-like.  Period.

Example:  Suppose I were to go to a pot luck dinner that I had been looking forward to and made a special dish for. In order to be admitted, you had to be carrying a food dish for the celebration. You could hear music, laughter, fun inside.  Now suppose someone was there standing in line with you who very badly wanted to go in as well, but they had not brought any food to share.

They explain how desperately they need to go in, how their friends are waiting on them inside. Tears begin to form around the corners of their eyes—your heart melts.

Question: Would it be more Christ-like to let them have my dish and go home knowing I’d been a good example?  Could I pat myself on the back and know that I’d been selfless?  Or would it be more correct to tell them, “Sorry this is for me.”

I think most would say even though it would be hard, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Some of you would say that this would be codependent or enabling and they need to learn a lesson.

The biblical example is of the foolish virgins who did not bring enough oil to receive the bridegroom.  They appealed to the wise virgins who had brought ample oil and to spare, which proved to be needed.

The bible clearly implies that the correct response was to be prepared, and not facilitate people who are not.  We can all cite examples of governmental hand-outs to people, some of whom spend the day in undesirable pursuits.  The last eight years has seen fruitless bail-outs which has done nothing to correct our economy.

Is this “nice”?  Or is it lazy?  Or maybe it’s simply cowardly…not wanting to stand up or certainly not stand against the majority telling us to give and care.  Period.  No questions asked and no responsibility required.

I think today, too often, people PRIDE themselves on how very NICE they are. And they confuse it with being Christian.

Jesus turned over the tables in the temple…this was not “nice” but it was full of Holy passion for his Father’s house.

Can you imagine yourself getting so full of desire to protect that which is Holy that you would use whips to drive people offering a different doctrine out of a place in our modern churches? Close your eyes and try to picture it – you upsetting furniture, being hostile towards unbelievers. Can you not even imagine this in your mind?

As Christians, we are known for being weak, meek and compromising. In “The Simpsons”, the Christian neighbor is aptly portrayed as being a push-over: nice and someone to be taken advantage of and mocked. About everything, all the time. Is that who we are? Is it who we want to be?

Is it because you are just too “nice” to behave that way. If so, are you not judging yourself as being better than the Lord?

All sin has its roots in PRIDE. We need to know and believe that Jesus is enough. Jesus plus nothing. Jesus in his humility and in his rage, both. Jesus who laid down his life and Jesus who made whips and used them.

We pride ourselves in being able to identify with the Lord on the ‘nice’ end.  But we don’t want to be part of the standing up no matter what it takes side.  Holy Zeal is in short supply in today’s America.

Pray about this and ask the Lord to show you (He will) where pride of being what you want to be perceived to be is not who He is. Listen for his voice. He speaks to his people and wants them to hear.

And by the way, I believe NICE is much too small a word for God.  Let’s give him accolades for his real attributes:  Righteous, Merciful, Gracious, Loving and so many more words that truly belong to Him.  And leave NICE to describe how the cookies turned out.