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“It is better to be kind than to be right.” So says author, Anne Lamott. Indeed, so declares our cultural and media elites. Further, so affirms our post-modern societal milieu. #MaryPoppins was closer to the truth. She said, “A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down.” In other words, yes, be kind, supportive, and ‘quick to listen, slow to speak.’ However, at the end of the day, the medicine cures, and it is no kindness to deny the patient, because the taste is bad and the side effects are unpleasant. We people of traditional, religious faith face this dilemma almost constantly. Christians say #Jesusistheonlyway of salvation, Muslims declare that Muhammed was the last and greatest prophet, and all theists tell us that we must recognize and reconcile with a power greater than ourselves. Concerning social mores, we extol the historic view of marriage, and remind that children tend to do best with a mother and father. Such counsel is not nice to post-modern ears. It seems mean, and it makes struggling single-parents, as well as those in non-traditional relationships, feel bad, and even guilty. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, pitting this virtue against rightness (righteousness) distorts and weaponizes kindness. Ultimately, the admonition to be kind is a muzzle, meant to silence prophets and whistle blowers. Thankfully, the #metoo movement realizes that truth and right are more important than kindness towards predators. Gratefully, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. chose rightness over kindness towards segregationists. Some will object that people of faith are not brave social heroes. They are antiquated bigots, who hide behind their religions. If one believes so, then s/he should have the honest discussion. Let us stop with the passive-aggressive calls for those we oppose to be silent, in the name of kindness. I want to be kind. May God fill me and empower me to be such. However, on that hard day when truth must be shared, may the Almighty grant me courage to chose rightness. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rightness-against-kindness-tommy-ellis/