ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS (A.R.K.)

In the Evan Almighty movie, this was what “God” meant by “Build me an A.R.K.” In reality, it is a self-proclaimed “nonreligious” foundation (www.actsofkindness.org) that promotes kindness within our nation and acts as a delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization whose goal is to increase the world’s capacity of kindness and compassion. They also give away free puppies, hugs, smiles, and a pocket full of rainbows. Though the humanistic endeavor to be kinder to your fellow man is honorable and even commanded by God, “Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph 4:32), as an end, that is be kind in order to encourage compassion, is just not good enough for Christians. For Christians to consider acts of random kindness equivalent to “Therefore, be imitators of God” (Eph 5:1—the verse that follows 4:32), is akin to believing the placement of a dollar in the offering plate is the same as making disciples of all nations.

“But, Mike, surely this isn’t a problem in Christianity.” Check out this website, http://www.arkalmighty.com, and you see that many Christians believe that “selfless, unexpected acts of kindness… [will] help others understand God’s gift of love and grace to all people.” I read a bulletin this past week advertising a mission trip to Central America in which the ministry will consist of random acts of kindness. But why would it be a problem for Christians to promote kindness?

“For God so loved the world,” means that God loves all people, right? What if God fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed strangers into His home, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned and yet still sent them to eternal torment, would we call that, “love?” Matthew 25:35-40 is used often to support community outreach with the reminder, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” But are random acts of kindness what God sent Jesus to accomplish?

“Be imitators of God,” Ephesians 5:1 commands us, “…And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.” When did Jesus feed the hungry? Did not the five thousand return only to hear these words, “Do not labor for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). When did He provide drink for the thirsty? Instead He says, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever” (John 4:13,14). When Jesus welcomed strangers it was with this commission, “Follow Me,” unless they were sick, then He healed them and told them, “Go home to your family.” When did He clothe the naked or visit the imprisoned? Yet, Jesus commanded His disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). If Jesus example of love did not consist of these humanitarian services, then what did He do for His disciples?

“Go and make disciples of all nations,” must mean more to us than go and be kind. If the purpose of our kindness is to demonstrate God’s love, then we have truly missed the mark by defining God’s love as relief from temporal inadequacies. When you serve, do you share the Gospel of “believe and be saved,” or the Gospel of “Take up your cross and follow Him?” Do you tell them to read the Bible as you pass them a cup of cold water or do you train them to study God’s word as you pass onto them the commission of God. Do you build them houses or do you build them into the temple of God? Friends, it is a great accomplishment for a sinner to turn his kindness into reproductive compassion. But we saints are not commissioned to be kind. We are called to make disciples. And that’s not a random act.

“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Rom 11:22).