Gentleness Misunderstood

When I announced to my non-religious parents many years ago that I was going to start attending church, my mother asked why I needed religion and my father called it a crutch.  To my father I responded, “Great, I’ll take two please!”  It’s so frequently the case when speaking to non-religious folks that they will say similar things.  “Who needs faith?  Your religion is just a ‘sky dad,’ I don’t need some fake person to tell me what is right and wrong.”  I’ve also heard people say, “Christians just turn their minds off and give themselves over to a made up god.  They don’t think for themselves.”

As for the last comment I would say they are half correct.  A true and faithful Christian seeks to turn their sinful self “off” and submit their heart, mind, body and soul to the one true God.  The world calls that a weakness.  In fact, some twist the idea of “meekness” or “gentleness” to mean that very thing: a weakness.  When the world says we need self-praise and self-assertion we say we look to God for His will, His love, and our direction.

Meekness is not weakness, for both Moses and Jesus were meek men.  The word translated “meek” was used by the Greeks to describe a horse that had been broken.  It refers to power under control.”  

Warren Wiersbe, commentary on Matthew 5:5

The word “meek” and “gentle” come from a similar word in Greek – praus (prah-ooce) and prautes (prah-oo-tace).  One is an adjective and one is a noun.  It’s interesting, however, when you look up the word “meek” in the English language you get these definitions: quiet, gentle, easily imposed on.  Isn’t that what we tend more to think when we read in the Bible that the meek are to be blessed and inherit the earth?  And when we read in Galatians of the fruit of the Spirit, one being “gentleness,” don’t we think of some sweet old person quietly living out their days in obscurity?  Someone who probably doesn’t have much of an opinion about anything? And if they did, they certainly wouldn’t voice it!

But wouldn’t that be in conflict with the full picture of Jesus?  In the one place where Jesus describes the state of His own heart, He gives us a picture of what we too should mirror – a gentle and humble heart.  And yet He was a man with an opinion.  A man who clearly spoke of sin, judgment, mercy, righteousness, and eternal life. He stood strong and faithful in front of those who mocked Him.  He was meekness under control.   More importantly, gentle under God’s control.

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So, what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground." John 8:3-8

As a person of action, frequently lacking in gentleness, I had always found this passage so frustrating!  I wanted Jesus to look these hypocrites in the eye and tell them off.  Put the full strength of God into His words and watch them melt into a puddle of shame.  But He squatted down (a look of weakness it would seem) and started doodling.  Doodling!!  And the world shakes their head at His apparent lack of authority and power.  “Here is the God YOU submit to,” they say.  “If He had any god-like qualities He would have given them the ‘you’re fired!’ response.”

And yet… 

"But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:9-11.

Jesus brushed off His hands and shrugged.  No anger needed.  No smoting.  Just a gentle ripping open of the accusers’ souls.  And still the world misunderstands because they are so attached to the sins of pride and self-importance and fleshly pursuits of power.

Friend, the world will call you weak.  The world will say you have turned your mind over to a god.  You are submissive.  Your response? Tell them thank you for noticing because it means they can see your fruit.  It may not be to their liking but it’s not the world we seek to please.

Coming up: Gentleness in action