Be kind to one another

"We don't have to agree on anything to be kind to one another," Toby Mac posted. You would think everyone finds unity in that truth regardless of faith, occupation, or stance in social issues. If only it was true.

Last week, at an Orlando gay nightclub, 49 were killed and another 50 people were injured. The shooter, identified as Omar Mateen, called 911 during the attack to pledge his allegiance to ISIS. The response of the closest Orlando Chick-fil-A location at University and Rouse Road was surprising. The fast-food restaurant -- known for being closed, always, on Sundays and the opposition of CEO Dan Cathy to same-sex marriage -- opened on Sunday, cooked up hundreds of their famous chicken sandwiches, and brewed dozens of gallons of sweet tea. Why you might ask? Well, to give it away free of charge to all the people lined up at One Blood donation center waiting to donate blood for those shot in the gay nightclub.

The fast-food restaurant drew controversy in 2012 when Cathy told the Baptist Press he was "guilty as charged" for supporting traditional marriage. There was a nationwide outrage about his intolerant, bigoted, and hateful comment. Boycotts were called. All of the major television networks reported on it and carried other programming that did the same. Major newspapers and magazines followed suite. Social media lit up with the controversy. Not so when they demonstrated a little kindness without changing their belief in and support of traditional marriage.

Care to know some of the fruit genuine followers of Jesus bear? According to Paul's letter to the Galatians, it includes kindness and generosity. It sure looks like Chick-fil-A demonstrated what they claimed to believe on a wider front than simply sexuality. Major media and the majority of social media users ignored the news.

It is both disheartening and cause for alarm that some of the replies on social media totally overlooked any possible good of the selfless Good Samaritan act. Instead, it was an occasion to denigrate the company and any person who does not support LGBTQI rights. Who sounds more bigoted and intolerant? Do you have to agree on everything to be kind and generous?

Perhaps fear drives those who ignore the good in order to remain focused on the point of disagreement. They may fear focusing on good from those they oppose will diminish their cause. If so, they have reason to fear.

Peggy Callahan does the difficult work of producing social justice documentaries and is co-founder of two nonprofits working to help people enslaved or caught in human trafficking. Amazingly, her work brings her happiness. Neuroscience research explains, "When you do an act of good, you get a neurotransmitter drop in your brain that makes you happy.... (and) there's a multiplier effect: Someone who witnesses that act also experiences that, and remembering that act makes it happen all over again."

Not acknowledging good, generous, acts of kindness due to the fear of losing hearts and minds to your cause will fan the flames of anger, alienation, destruction, and yes, death from either side.

It is time to practice kindness and celebrate it wherever it happens for any reason. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

-- Dr. Randy Rowlan is pastor of First United Methodist Church. Comments are welcomed at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.