Was Jesus "nice?"

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The article linked below is a protest against what its author sees as a popular misconception about Jesus Christ and that affects people’s actions. Personally, I would appreciate hearing the reactions of people who disagree or agree with what this article says. To go to the full article, click on the spot designated, in the seventh line of the text of the first webpage
www.catholic-convert.com/2011/06/15/was-jesus-nice/
 
Origin of the word nice according to dictionary.reference.com:
1250–1300; Middle English: foolish, stupid < Old French: silly, simple < Latin nescius ignorant, incapable, equivalent to ne- negative prefix + sci- (stem of scīre ** to know**; see science) + -us adj. suffix

That exactly what nice is isn’t it? Pretending you don’t see it when someone has done something immoral or bad just to not get them mad at you.

Jesus definitely was not afraid to walk on toes.I remember that “You brood of vipers!” to the Pharisees. He exposed sin and evil doctrines when he saw it and was not afraid of walking on the toes of those who spread and supported hellish doctrines or actions. Tough love not hippy sort love.
 
There are other verses too that show tough love that are not nice:
  1. F.Y.I. calling a person a hypocrite was also one of the major insults of the time the famous “thou hypocrite” speech in Matthew 23:1-38 is a BIG not nice
  2. Jesus never compromised truth for niceness and cordiality. He told us he did not come to bring peace but division, even the division of our families (Matthew 10)
  3. He told us to not throw pearls before swine (Matthew 7)
  4. To shake off the dust of places who would not listen (Matthew 10).
  5. His apostles preaching His teaching instructs us to not associate with those calling themselves Christian but living a life of sin (1 Corinthians 5)
  6. To avoid certain people who pretend to religion but who deny its power (2 Timothy 3)
  7. To shun heretics and divisive people (Titus 3)
  8. To hand unrepentant sinners over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5)
Yep, Jesus has a tough demanding love not an anything goes as long as it doesn’t offend love.
 
mdgspencer said:
The article linked below is a protest against what its author sees as a popular misconception about Jesus Christ and that affects people’s actions. Personally, I would appreciate hearing the reactions of people who disagree or agree with what this article says. To go to the full article, click on the spot designated, in the seventh line of the text of the first webpage
www.catholic-convert.com/2011/06/15/was-jesus-nice/
Click to expand...
Was Jesus ‘nice’? As the other posters already pointed out, if by ‘nice’ you mean that He’s this proto-hippie who spoke softly of love and peace and was all mushy and lovey-dovey, then no. The problem is, people often confuse ‘meek and mild’ with ‘ultra-tolerant’ or even ‘wimpy’ or ‘effeminate’.

Admittedly, when I read the Gospels, the image of Jesus that comes to my mind is something like this: someone on fire and very passionate, almost aggressive, about what He believes.
 
The article sounds good to me.

I’ve never cared much for the timid and weak version of Jesus that is sometimes portrayed. I imagine that he was of a stature fitting for one who had perhaps worked with the heavy wooden beams of a carpenter’s shop. I imagine that he spoke with the gentle kindness of God’s love, but also with the powerful sterness and authority of God’s love when required. Tough, but also someone whom the children were drawn to.
 
Jesus cursed fig trees, and caused them to die.

Now I ask you, how nice is that?
 
Me1234 said:
There are other verses too that show tough love that are not nice:
  1. F.Y.I. calling a person a hypocrite was also one of the major insults of the time the famous “thou hypocrite” speech in Matthew 23:1-38 is a BIG not nice
  2. Jesus never compromised truth for niceness and cordiality. He told us he did not come to bring peace but division, even the division of our families (Matthew 10)
  3. He told us to not throw pearls before swine (Matthew 7)
  4. To shake off the dust of places who would not listen (Matthew 10).
  5. His apostles preaching His teaching instructs us to not associate with those calling themselves Christian but living a life of sin (1 Corinthians 5)
  6. To avoid certain people who pretend to religion but who deny its power (2 Timothy 3)
  7. To shun heretics and divisive people (Titus 3)
  8. To hand unrepentant sinners over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5)
Yep, Jesus has a tough demanding love not an anything goes as long as it doesn’t offend love.
Click to expand...
Add to that:
  1. He tells people that it would be better for Judas if he’d never been born! ouch!
  2. He chases the hawkers from the temple with a staff, overturning their wares and condemning them for soiling His Father’s house.
 
“Nice” sounds entirely weak, mundane, inadequate for God the Son.
 
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