An article by William Easum called “On Not Being Nice ‘For the Sake of the Gospel’“ which is published in Net Results/April 1997, opens with these three paragraphs:
Throughout my consulting ministry, I have seen a disturbing pattern: Most established churches are held hostage by bullies. Some individual or small group of individuals usually opposes the church’s making any radical change, even if it means the change would give the church a chance to thrive again. Courageous pastors often ask, “What do I do when one or two persons intimidate the church so much that it is not willing to try something new?” My response is always, “Either convert them, neutralize them, kick them out, or kill them. The Body cannot live with cancer.” To which someone usually cries, “That’s not very Christian!”
However, my response reflects much of the wisdom of both the Old Testament and Jesus. Maturing Christians love so deeply that they will do anything, even not be nice, “for the sake of the gospel.” Jesus was so compassionate toward others that he could not remain quiet when he saw people holding others in bondage. I think that we have confused “love others” with “being nice.” Easum makes this statement — in boldface — later in the article: I’m convinced that one of the main sins of the Church is that we have taught ourselves to be nice instead of Christian.
And still later in the article: People who would rather be nice than Christian do not love enough. They do not have enough compassion. Instead, they are afraid of hurting someone or of being hurt. But fear is the opposite of love: “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).
__________
William Easum, Net Results, April 1997