Real Christian kindness is far from superficial but instead adaptive to real life and reflective of a genuine concern for other people.
Some people prefer a more discreet form of gratitude while others appreciate generous thanks.
As people hear talk of Christian teachings more often in public, some will question if they are being asked to be “overly nice” or “superficially kind.” However, Christian teachings about how to treat people are far from superficial, and they are only construed to be that way when they are misunderstood or not taught the right way. Christians are called to treat people the way they would want to be treated, which looks different from one situation to the next and involves realistic and interpersonal consideration.
For example, the way a Christian should thank someone who has helped them would involve considering factors such as that person’s comfort zone and the context of the situation. Some people prefer a more discreet form of gratitude while others appreciate generous thanks. However, a Christian attitude toward others may even take the form of sternness instead of kindness in other types of scenarios.
A parent who realizes that their daughter or son is about to act recklessly or endanger themselves on a whim should stop them and have a serious talk with them. In this case, the parent recognizes that they would have wanted their parents to stop them from behavior that would have resulted in serious injury, even if they would not have realized the value of their parent’s guidance until after the fact at that age. This is why real Christian kindness is far from superficial but instead adaptive to real life and reflective of a genuine concern for other people.