My heart sank as I checked my Facebook notifications. I had commented about emotions I was feeling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I\u2019m confident of God\u2019s goodness, I\u2019m still very concerned about how the pandemic will impact people around the globe. That\u2019s why it stung a little to read this reply from a complete stranger: \u201cYou\u2019re weak\u201d he said. He might be right, but I didn\u2019t understand why it was necessary to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t want to expend valuable emotional energy being offended. It was a very minor comment, and \u201clove keeps no record of wrongs.\u201d I\u2019m not sharing this to garner sympathy or hold a grudge, but simply to illustrate a point. Rudeness causes pain, tearing people down rather than building them up. Scripture reminds us: \u201cLove is not rude\u2026\u201d (1 Corinthians 13:5, NCV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our culture has become increasingly polarized, opinionated, and rude. If you turn on the news or read a politically or socially charged debate on social media, you will likely sense thick hostility in the air. It seems that the enemy has been on a mission to rob humans of our ability to express our own beliefs without demeaning or belittling others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only person who was never rude is Jesus\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The word rude<\/em> can be defined multiple ways. It can mean \u201coffensively impolite or ill-mannered,\u201d \u201cignorant and uneducated,\u201d or \u201cprimitive, lacking subtlety or sophistication\u201d (Google Dictionary). These definitions indicate that rudeness makes us less noble and less human than we were created to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of us can recall times when we\u2019ve been rude, as well as when we\u2019ve been hurt by rudeness. The only person who was never rude is Jesus: \u201cHe exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul.\u201d The quote goes on to say that even when Jesus had to confront people, he never resorted to rudeness: \u201cHe fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice\u2026 Every soul was precious in His eyes\u201d (Ellen White, The Desire of Ages<\/em>, p. 353).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we dialogue with those around us, let\u2019s ask ourselves: \u201cDoes the way I\u2019m speaking reveal that I believe every soul is precious?\u201d By rejecting the impulse to be rude, we can become more noble, more human, and ultimately\u2014more like Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n