Posted on 05/15/2008 5:36:43 PM PDT by DouglasKC
"I love those dear hearts and gentle people who live in my home town. Because those dear hearts and gentle people will never, ever let you down." The words of this song, written 47 years ago by Bob Hilliard, call to mind a time when the world was (at least in our collective memory) a more neighborly place. Do you sometimes find yourself wishing for those times? Do you yearn for a return to civility?
Author Robert Fulghum addressed the problem of a general lack of courtesy and politeness this way: "All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten . . . Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people . . . Say you're sorry when you hit somebody" (All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Villard Books, New York, 1989, p. 6). The author then mentioned that the world would be a better place if everyone, including the leaders of governments, lived by these basic principles.
This sandbox wisdom happens to be in agreement with the Bible. It can be described with one word from the Book of Books. That word is gentleness.
Gentleness-mildness of manners or disposition-is too often lacking in our world. Gentleness-not to be confused with weakness or a lack of resolve-is a trait of character we all could use more of.
Gentleness doesn't come naturally. Gentleness is something Christians must learn. It is a trait that is godly, and as His children God expects us to become gentle, as He is.
Becoming gentle is not easy. Sometimes gentleness comes with great difficulty and through harrowing circumstances.
An example of learning gentleness the hard way is the life of Elijah. This man of God-the quintessential Old Testament prophet-boldly denounced sin. He exuded courage, seeming to fear no one. On one occasion he called fire down from heaven in a magnificent display of his (and God's) disapproval of lawlessness.
He then proceeded to lead a band of men to execute hundreds of pagan prophets (1 Kings 18:36-40). Surely at this point no one would have mentioned Elijah and gentleness in the same breath.
Elijah was a fierce warrior in the battle against apostasy. But, hard on the heels of this impressive victory against pagan religion, God allowed another type of experience to befall Elijah and teach him something about godly character. The false prophets whom Elijah killed were devotees of wicked Queen Jezebel. Upon hearing of the prophet's zeal in slaughtering the heathen seers, the queen swore out a warrant for Elijah's arrest and execution.
When we read of this episode in Elijah's history, we see the normally resolute man of God suddenly and inexplicably terrified. He acts like a broken man. He flees for his life. He is on the run for 40 days, then finds himself at Mount Horeb (Sinai), where he seeks refuge in a cave (1 Kings 19:1-8). God asks Elijah why he fled. Elijah bitterly replies that he went there because he was "very zealous" for the truth, but his only reward was a death sentence (1 Kings 19:9, 10).
God tells His servant to watch. God then effects three powerful displays. First, a fierce wind rips boulders loose from the mountain. Second, a mighty quake shakes the land. Third, a fire suddenly flares.
At various times God had used all three of these phenomena to communicate with human beings. On this occasion, though, God uses a quite different medium. Elijah hears a "still small voice." The prophet immediately recognizes the voice and comprehends the message.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes of this passage: "Even God does not always operate in the realm of the spectacular!" (Vol. 4, p. 150). God apparently wanted to show Elijah His gentle side. People who serve God must retain their humility and be of a gentle spirit. There comes a time to act strongly and loudly, but other times call for a quiet and gentle approach.
The disciples of Jesus Christ learned this same lesson. Like Elijah, they wanted to burn evildoers. They mistakenly thought ferocity was the ideal behavior for a servant of God. As He had with Elijah, God intervened, through Jesus Christ, to show them they were wrong.
Friends of James and John called those two "the Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). The Gospel of Luke shows this was an appropriate nickname for the pair. Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem, and on the way they sought lodging in a Samaritan city. Historians tell us of long-standing enmity between the Samaritan and the Jewish people. Samaritans refused to allow Jews to enter their city (Luke 9:51-53).
Because they feel snubbed, James and John say they would like to duplicate Elijah's miracle of destruction by fire. Jesus is put off by their attitudes, and His unequivocal response comes through in the statement that "He turned and rebuked them."
Jesus lets James and John know that their attitude is not right because the "Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (Luke 9:54-56).
In the biblical accounts of Elijah and the Sons of Thunder, Christians can learn an important lesson-that we are to be predominantly gentle people, just as our Savior, Jesus Christ, was gentle. In Jesus' many statements about Himself, one of the most memorable is found in Matthew 11:28-30. Here He plainly states that He is "gentle and lowly in heart."
In His message to His disciples in Matthew 5, commonly called the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus honors pacific people: "Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . Blessed are the meek . . . Blessed are the merciful . . . Blessed are the pure in heart . . . Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:1-9).
We see the quality of gentleness woven through the fabric of the message. This trait stands in the Bible as the proper temperament for a servant of God. People who breathe "threats and murder" miss the point of their calling, as was the case with the unconverted Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1). Heavy-handed tactics are like a hefty ax that lacks a keen edge. They are more suited to bruise than to prune.
When we think of gentleness, we note a marked contrast between that ideal and the standards of our era. Ours is an age that is too often marked by hostility and malice, rather than compassion and reasonableness. It is steeped in the doctrine of cutthroat competition.
Fair, ethical and friendly competition can produce a superior product for the money, but, when abused, competition can exact a great price in human relationships. Vicious and unfair competition can reduce man from a creature of potential gentleness to a product of social Darwinism. The strongest, most competitive survive. Conglomerates and cartels consume small, family-owned businesses. The result can be an inhospitable community, to say the least.
Even our speech too often barbs and bristles, adversely affecting our relationships. The tongue can divide and destroy. Mortimer B. Zuckerman, editor of U.S. News & World Report, wrote: "In these fraught times, our rhetoric must be toned down, our words more carefully weighed . . ." (U.S. News & World Report, June 12, 1995, p. 94).
Destructive, harsh tactics do not reflect the values of the Bible. The prophet Isaiah recorded: "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary" (Isaiah 50:4). This scripture is in reality a prophecy of Jesus Christ, our example. Society should know a Christian for his gentleness.
Paul wrote, "Let your gentleness be known to all men" (Philippians 4:5). This apostle, formerly the violent and persecuting Saul of Tarsus, had learned the gentleness of God-just as had Elijah. The Greek word for gentleness is epieikes; it is sometimes translated "graciousness," "courtesy" or "moderation." According to William Barclay, no English word completely captures the meaning of epieikes. Matthew Arnold, a 19th-century English poet, defined epieikes as "sweet reasonableness" (The Daily Study Bible Series, Vol. 14, p. 96). If epieikes is an evasive concept to translate, it is also an elusive trait to internalize.
Epieikes is manifest in Jesus Christ, as we have seen.
The book of Isaiah shows us that Jesus Christ will deal with an afflicted humanity with the utmost tenderness. "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young" (Isaiah 40:11).
Ours is an age in which the followers of Jesus should shine forth as lights in the world by emulating the gentleness of Christ in word and deed.
Those who would follow Jesus Christ must by all means learn what it means to be meek and lowly in heart. GN
Thought you would appreciate this considering the flak you’re getting...
BTTT.
Ping.
Bump for later research and reference...
Uh, there something I said that made me ping-worthy?
What happened to Lazamataz??
Excellent article.
Thank you for thinking of me.
7 days in the hole. Got suspended on Monday, I think
Oh, not again. Poor Laz!
Excellent article.
Jesus did say that loving your neighbor was one of the two most important commandments.
Sadly, in the Catholic vs. Protestant blood bath, many of us, in debating Christ, ignored His basic teachings.
I sinned against my neighbors here.
Me too. There comes a point when we stop sharing our beliefs and instead end up gleefully ripping apart others. I know in the past I've done that I repent of it.
Those who would follow Jesus Christ must by all means learn what it means to be meek and lowly in heart. GN
Did he do this gentely?
Mat 21:12 ¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Maybe he needed an anger management course.
Are you saying that Christians shouldn't strive to learn meekness?
Psa 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace
Psa 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Or are you saying that imperfect people have the same capability, spiritual discernment, sinlessness and right to express righteous anger as Christ did in this example?
***Or are you saying that imperfect people have the same capability, spiritual discernment, sinlessness and right to express righteous anger as Christ did in this example? ***
Well, St Paul had anger problems!
Act 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Act 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
And his wish that the legalizers wer “cut off”
Gal 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Gal 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
And he wasn’t refering to being separated from them. Something else was to be “cut off”.
So, because St. Paul became extremely frustrated with the extreme Hebrew sects of Christianity, we should all become angry and spiteful.
What other teachings of The Lord should we jettison?
**What other teachings of The Lord should we jettison?**
Just read them in their context. There is such a thing as righteous anger.
Act 15:1 ¶ And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Was Paul gentle with these men? I doubt it. I also doubt it came to blows.
And Peter cut off Malchus's ear. And Moses slew an Egyptian. Disciples sinned. Disciples sin. Bad examples are there for us to learn from, not to hold up as proper behavior.
I meant to include you in the list I pinged in my previous post, just as I was hitting enter...
***And Peter cut off Malchus’s ear. And Moses slew an Egyptian.***
But this was before each had God’s Holy Spirit in them. Moses before his encounter with the burning bush and Peter before Penticost. Paul had his righteous anger after the Holy Spirit entered him.
How do we show civility toward someone who seriously believes there is nothing wrong with their unChristian behavior, or beliefs (flds for example). There ARE heretical beliefs and practices within what some consider Christianity, how are we to correct them?
You have in essence been uncivil here to those you consider uncivil. It is such a conundrum.
Thanks for posting this.
I'm reminded of the fifth commandment -- Do not murder -- and it's meaning that we should not have murderous intentions of hatred and revenge. (Matt 5:21,22) I think this also goes beyond just this to trying to destroy another's beliefs and the way they think about God. I've about given up posting on the religion forum because of the flagrant attacks which I feel are against the spirit of this commandment.
The Lord wants us to approach Him in love. Love is an affection that lasts forever.
I wouldn't say that Paul was exhibiting righteous anger. He was well aware of his shortcomings.
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Civility is simply being polite and courteous. It doesn't mean that you have to stop expressing your beliefs. This scripture is great:
1Th 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
1Th 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Paul didn't water down the gospel. He spoke it boldly.
1Th 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
1Th 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
1Th 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
1Th 2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
1Th 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
Paul was bold with the gospel, yet gentle in his demeanor and approach. Civil, because he truly cared about others.
How do we show civility toward someone who seriously believes there is nothing wrong with their unChristian behavior, or beliefs (flds for example). There ARE heretical beliefs and practices within what some consider Christianity, how are we to correct them?
2Ti 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
You have in essence been uncivil here to those you consider uncivil. It is such a conundrum.
I don't think I've been uncivil in this thread, although I know I've been guilty of that in the past
Bump
Thanks very much for posting this article. Anger is one of the seven deadly sins. On another thread recently, I posted what I was taught by a very Christ-like priest:
Anger is only righteous:
for the right reason
with the right person
at the right time
in the right way
We also need to take into account the difference between our human tendency to be contentious and the righteous anger of the Living God. Being petulant and disagreeable and irritable and angry can become a habit—a habit which spreads bad humor like a virus.
I know, as perhaps many here do, that failing to treat others with dignity and respect is quite destructive and as my southern-born-and-bred granddaughter says: “it’s offputting”. We can all search our consciences about this, because every time we diminish someone else, we also harm ourselves.
“You must esteem the person of every man”. 1 Peter 2:17.
Thank you for your comments. The sentence above is one I had been trying to express and hadn't yet done so and I thank you for it.
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