how you say it…

When dealing with Racial Unity in the Church and the issues that accompany the topic, how you respond may be just as or even more important than what you say. That’s because the tone and quality of our responses can have as significant an impact on what we’re saying as the words themselves.

Proverbs 15:1 reads, “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” It’s tough enough to deal with this in our existing relationships with people we know and love. When you add to this context the building of relationships with those who don’t have the same background, culture, norms, or values as you do, let alone not knowing each other though you have the same common binding interest in Christ, challenges exist.

We’re called to do many things with gentleness, synonymous with kindness, tenderness, or being mild mannered. When defending our beliefs (1 Peter 3:15), restoring a person needing forgiveness (Galatians 6:1), or simply being good Christians (Titus 3:2), gentleness is a necessary ingredient. Practicing it leads to better relationships and peace.