“Winsome” is one of those words that make me feel like giving someone an Indian burn. The dictionary defines it as “cheerful, pleasant and appealing.” And Christian commentators are always advising us to “be winsome” as Team Satan tears down our country, debauches our culture, corrupts our churches, and comes gunning for our children.
Guess how many times the word “winsome” is used in the Bible, King James Version.
Zero! Never!
Was Our Lord Jesus Christ being winsome when He called the Pharisees, to their faces, a generation of vipers (Matthew 3:7, and elsewhere)? Was He being winsome when He fashioned a whip and drove the moneychangers from the Temple (John 2:15)? Or how about when He told His audience, “You are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44)? Think they found those words very winsome?
What do these commentators want of us? “Sure, tell the truth, that everyone who promotes homosexuality has a really good chance of spending all eternity in Hell–but simper winsomely while you do it!” Maybe we ought to have our pictures painted on velvet, with real big eyes–I’m told that’s winsome.
It’s okay to let people know that their actions are destroying the country, are exceedingly displeasing to God, and come directly from the Devil–as long as you can do it in a cheerful, pleasant and appealing manner? Maybe get the Doublemint Twins out of retirement: maybe they could deliver that message in a winsome way.
I think we’ve long passed by the time when winsome might have been of service to us. Don’t you?
Lee, I couldn’t agree more! You’ve nailed it again! Funny, the brood of vipers came to my mind too.
I think that’s one of the causes of our trouble. A lot of people are afraid that they might offend someone. I’m not!
This is not to say that I advocate being rude or inconsiderate, because I don’t act that way towards others. It is my sincere desire to get along and to help others feel better for having met me, but there are limits. We have to speak out against evil.
I saw an increasing influence of evil in a church I had attended for years and was rebuked sternly if I pointed out this gradualist acceptance of unGodly conduct. Eventually, I took my leave and forfeited many personal friendships in the process. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was necessary. In the years since, I was watched in dismay as I’ve seen the lives of old friends negatively affected and this tells me I made the right choice, but it has not been an easy choice.
We can be nice without caving in to badness, but once again, it’s not easy. Sometimes, we just can’t paste a smile on our face and nod in agreement. No one said following our Lord would be easy. In fact, we were told up front that it would be difficult.
Time to get back to my hobby: drawing smiley faces on garbage trucks. 🙂
“Winsome” – you mean Joel Osteen? Christians are to be gentle and humble as their wear Jesus’ yoke – that doesn’t mean being door mats. Taking every thought captive to Christ is warfare. We are to be good soldiers. Watered down sloppy agape doesn’t make the grade at Christ’s judgment seat.
I think that means we’re supposed to try to please liberals and always tell them they’re right.