Originally published June 14, 2023 as part of the Christian Life In Full Bloom series.
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. I responded, “Great, I’ll take two, please!”
I frequently hear similar objections from non-religious people: “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 right. A true and faithful Christian seeks to turn their sinful self “off” and submit 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 calls for self-praise and self-assertion, Christians look instead to God for His will, His love, and His 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 words “meek” and “gentle” come from related Greek words: praus (prah-ooce) and prautes (prah-oo-tace). One is an adjective; the other is a noun. Yet look up “meek” in English and you’ll find definitions such as quiet, gentle, and easily imposed upon. 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 who spoke with conviction, clearly addressing sin, judgment, mercy, righteousness, and eternal life. He stood strong and faithful before those who mocked Him. This was meekness: strength under control. More importantly, strength 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 smiting. 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 may call you weak. It may say you’ve surrendered your mind to God. That you’re submissive.
Perhaps the answer is simply, “Thank you for noticing.”
Because if the world can see the fruit, then gentleness has not made you invisible. It has made visible the One to whom you have submitted. And ultimately, it is not the world we seek to please.
