An Interesting Definition of Passive Aggression…

…when a commercial brings a Biblical principle to mind…By Debbie Christopher

A popular insurance commercial that portrays samples of passive aggressive actions in an exaggerated way stumped me for a bit at first. I asked my husband to help me understand exactly what passive aggression meant. He explained, and we looked up various definitions trying to pinpoint a clearer understanding.

Then, I ‘got it’ and said, “Oh, what Christians do or say when we want to follow scripture and be gracious, yet our hearts want to do otherwise!?” My husband laughed and said, “Yes, I guess that’s probably a good way to explain it!”

In other words, being nice to someone when you really don’t want to…and you find a clever way to do ‘both’….like pushing all the elevator buttons while saying have a blessed day—with a smile of course!

Doing things graciously is a main theme I try to always keep in mind as I go about my day to day life, but I wonder how often I attempt to…or consider how to add my own little touch of ‘vengeance’ to the situation. Admit it, you’re thinking of your own attempts!

I’m sure we all need to guard our hearts from being that soccer mom at the raffle table or the elevator guy, or—-fill in your blank in those commercials,

Consider these two verses to help us fight off that passive aggression that tempts us so often:

“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭HCSB

“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Being gracious goes beyond a simple act of kindness or being nice. It’s all about having a gracious heart…even when we don’t want to.

Let’s have that gracious heart…

~Debbie