Here is the great Irony - It is Tough trying to be Tender

I do not pretend for a minute that this will be an easy thing for the Spiritual mindset to make a difference in ministry and mission by showing tenderness - clearly it was no small thing, for the one who was in very nature God to suffer death at the hands of his creatures. But quite apart from that it, there are immense cultural hurdles both inward and outward.

Inwardly, it seems an affront to be exhorted to feel anything and to show that towards others, surely our affections must be spontaneous or else how could they be genuine?

Hence Paul’s method of taking us back to the actions of our God and Saviour with the plea – If there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, if any participation in the Spirit, …have the same feelings! Whether you consider yourself to be an extravert or an introvert, whether you’re hard but passionate or cool and rational or just a bit nervous and uncomfortable – try a little tenderness. At the very least can we reconsider this pathetic form of humour whereby we must consistently ridicule others for their actions or appearance because they somehow don’t match our expectations or conform to tribal norms? What place is there for sledging amongst those who speak of and for the suffering servant?

The outward cultural obstacles to the Spiritual Mindset showing tenderness may make it seem that it is hardly worth the risk. If the almost weekly reports of gospel ministers falling into adultery and depravity tell us one thing it must surely be that there has been far too much connecting going on. However, the solution to dysfunctional behaviour is not separation or isolation but rather righteous engagement.  If there is any participation in the Spirit, any experience of the power that raises the dead, then let us by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh for we have not received a Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but a Spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba, Father.

Consider also the words of encouragement that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

1Th. 4:3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 so that each of you knows how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, 5 not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God.

This series of posts sought to reflect on how the Mindset of the Spirit might make a difference in ministry and mission it has by no means been a thick theological description of life as a son or daughter of God to produce a one-size-fits-all identity. We have however had the opportunity to consider perfected living in the Lord Jesus Christ and so by the power of His Spirit I pray that we will ensure that the ends of our mission is determined by the means and we will pursue that ministry patiently, enduring with others loving them with the tenderness of our great God and Saviour.