The orthodoxy of niceness

David Wayne, looking at a recent online doctrinal debate, observes that in some circles, at least, being nice is more important than being orthodox. David is concerned that the "reigning orthodoxy of niceness" is discouraging healthy doctrinal debate within the church.

In this month's Gospel Adocate (available in hardcopy only), Charles Hodge shares similar ideas:

Jesus is the greatest person who ever lived. Our culture does everything it can to make Him nice. But they cannot rope Him in. Nice people do not get themselves crucified! Jesus called Pharisees snakes, hypocrites, whited sepulchres full of dead men's bones. Those don't sound nice! Jesus did not behave!

Amen.