I believe I’ve mentioned in studies past about an incident I once had that gave me a completely different view of the power of meekness. As a softball coach I sat in on all the board meetings where coaches were presented to be approved for the following season. During a previous season I had a difficult time with an overbearing and aggressive parent. With the board’s backing I expelled him from all practices and he wasn’t to be near the dugout during games. He was abusive not only to me but to his own daughter. At the next coaches’ approval meeting he showed up and ranted in front of about 20 coaches (all men and then me) about how if the board were to approve me, he would work to have the league’s field use permit negated. As he stood pointing and gesturing at me, calling me names, and disparaging my character I could do nothing but sit in stunned silence. I didn’t speak up and defend myself. I didn’t argue. And when he verbally attacked the president of the league he was told to sit down and stop talking.
What happened after the meeting shocked me even more. Coach after coach approached me and expressed how impressed they were with my stalwartness. They all thought I was fabulously and coolly dismissive of the angry man. I walked to my car that night with pats on my back. When I got into my car I started sobbing and trembling. I was silent in the meeting because I was terrified.
And this was just over a children’s sport! Imagine the torment, abuse, vitriol, that Jesus withstood. Many might say, “Of course He could, He was God.” Ok, fair point. Now imagine the disciples, once Jesus ascended, facing that same abuse, violence, and hatred. Continue on to all the new members of Christ’s church. Today there are still Christians in that same situation. The faithful in China, Iran, UAE, Cuba, Sri Lanka and more face persecution. According to an article in Christianity Today, 13 Christians are killed everyday because of their faith. Every day 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. (CT Jan. 13, 201). And we are still asked by the Lord to be gentle.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
Warren Wiersbe, on his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, says Jesus’ message is one of the most misunderstood that He ever gave. And it’s no wonder. Just a focus on Jesus’ definition of gentleness and meekness and the world’s shows diverse paths. When studying this sermon, given to disciples, Jesus was concerned about our conduct as believers. We are expected to live in full submission to the Father. And that full submission leads us to humility, mourning over our sins, a gentle heart, and an obvious separation from the world.
When we look over Jesus’ life here in the flesh, we see a man who was God – a man who was powerful yet gentle. And then the clearing of the temple happened.
“In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” John 2:14-16
This was the angry Jesus. He saw how the poor were being manipulated and abused when they came to the temple to worship. He saw the wrong-hearted attitude of those who twisted God’s plan. This didn’t sound like the meek and gentle Jesus!
I told my husband the other day how this passage in scripture is the one place people point to and say “See, Jesus got angry too! So, I can have the same zeal about unbelievers!” I would counter, in His three years what defined Jesus was how loving and gentle He was. In the few moments of anger toward either the Pharisees or those on the temple grounds He was able to make a solid point. His meekness and gentleness made these moments all the more powerful.
Pastor Jonathan Edwards once remarked on the necessity and danger of zeal, “Lukewarmness in religion is abominable and zeal an excellent grace; yet above all other Christian values, it needs to be strictly watched and searched.” You see, we can let our zeal for any topic take over our lives and it becomes a breeding ground for pride. Prideful ways lend themselves to anger and bitterness. A passionate Christian, when not allowing the Holy Spirit to weed out pride, will sound more like a clanging gong. Had I, in that moment at the softball meeting, engaged in a back and forth argument with the angry parent, I wouldn’t have been viewed so positively. I had every right to defend myself but silence made a more powerful point. Had I been a faithful believer at the time I wouldn’t have been so frightened but I realized later that God was teaching me an amazing lesson.
I’ve long searched for ways to be more gentle in my dealings with, well, just about everyone. I’m a doer, a hard-charger, a take no-prisoners type. And too frequently I have stepped on a lot of feelings. When I’ve tried to be the “kinder, gentler” me I realized I came across as a phony. Even to strangers. It wasn’t until I allowed God to work on a heart change that I saw the fruits begin to bloom.
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21
Not only does human anger (and being oblivious to anyone else’s needs or point of view) not produce righteousness but it also doesn’t produce gentleness. Quietness, listening and responding appropriately based on God’s will, which is implanted in us, brings us the ripe, juicy fruit of the Spirit. However, zeal and passion are never eliminated from our Christian way of life. God wants a passionate believer. One who seeks truth and to live it. A person who defends the weak and loves the unlovable. A believer who gives everything over to the Lord.
Friend, yes, the Father wants submission to His Way. To the Truth. That submission can look to the world like weakness. But as we stand while people berate us or even spit at us, we know the strength inside us. We can grieve for their sins, for our sins. We can love those who hate us because of the one who loves us. We can be kind and gentle knowing our all-powerful God has done the same with us throughout all time.
And in those times the Lord calls us into greater action, like Jesus in the temple, our passion instead of it being lost in the din, will be noticed.
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