Countless examples abound throughout the scriptures laying the foundations of a simple and poignant message. “Be kind.” The Bible mentions “kindness” in over 200 instances and “kind” over four-hundred times. Being kind is an act of charity, or the lifting up (figuratively) of others. God’s word offers wisdom for threading this godly attribute into our lives, even when disagreeing.
Somehow the concept of being “woke” has been vilified, just as Jesus was chased out of his home town for not performing miracles on demand for the people he grew up with, so too are those who are ‘woke.” But woke is the very epitome of kindness.
Miriam Webster defines woke as being “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice),” and identified as US slang. It originated in African American English and gained more widespread use beginning in 2014 as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. By the end of that same decade, it was also being applied by some as a general pejorative for anyone who is or appears to be politically left-leaning.”
Being kind means treating others with compassion, caring and thoughtfulness. It can also mean putting others’ needs before your own. Examples of kindness might be smiling at a stranger, holding the door open for someone, listening to someone who needs a friend, helping someone who is struggling, donating to a cause, volunteering, helping a neighbor, giving a gift, writing a note or calling a friend.
Being kind means being aware, noticing when someone is sad or in need. It means being thoughtful: considering how your actions might impact others; being genuine: show your feelings and be sincere, put others’ needs first and foremost—be respectful: treat others the way you want to be treated.
Kindness can also be practiced at home by living with integrity, and knowing what’s right and wrong, Treat yourself with kindness too.
It also can mean standing up to power.
Right Reverend Mariann Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, urged President Donald Trump to “have mercy” on people who are “scared now” during the inaugural prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral, specifically including those families with LGBTQ+ members and immigrants.
Right Rev. Budde directed her comments to the incoming president, who was seated in the front row—citing her belief about being saved by God from assassination and said: “God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”
The bishop also spoke up for immigrant workers, including those who may not “have the proper documentation,” saying the vast majority are “not criminals” but rather “good neighbors.”
Donald Trump’s response was to demand an apology—both from the bishop and the Episcopal Church. Being kind is not in the incoming POTUS’ lexicon, it seems. He characterized her exhortation to kindness as being “radical left hard line Trump-hater” who “brought her church into the world of politics in a very ungracious way” and was “nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart” on Truth Social (Mr. Trump’s social media platform). For her part, Bishop Budde states she has no intention of apologizing for encouraging an attitude of kindness to others.
It’s safe to say that the guy who claims the divine right of kings is not a Christian in any sense of the word. He eschews any sense of being kind—he’s Old Testament through and through, vengeance is mine sayeth the Donald. Right Rev. Budde begs to disagree with his characterization of the Bible—and for that matter, so do we.