Kindness was not a primary ethic in the Roman world. But it was a clearly Christian ethic (Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:8-9). Apparently there were Christians in Thessalonica who practiced revenge and were unkind to one another and to everyone else.

Frankly, some Christians have the same problem today. Their personal preferences and politics have become more important than their Christian faith and biblical obedience. They are unkind and revengeful to others in the stories they tell, the statements they make, the money they give and their use of the Internet.

Some may want to insist that they should be kind to fellow Christians with whom they agree but it is okay to be unkind to unbelievers or those with whom they disagree. However, the Bible clearly says “always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”