Gentleness in a Time of Roughness
For Meditation
Gentleness is perhaps the most overlooked virtue among the fruit of the Spirit. I have heard people pray for patience and joy, love and peace, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone pray for or even say that they want to become a more gentle person. Why would that be?
Gentleness has always had a bad wrap. In ancient times, gentleness, along with humility, were seen not as virtues but nearly as vices. In ancient Greece and Rome, real men were not gentle or humble- they were strong, powerful and dominant. Boasting was practically an art form in the ancient world. Not a whole lot has changed today. Pop culture glorifies the powerful, sometimes violent strong man who takes down his enemies, and we often gravitate towards leaders who exhibit self-confidence and pride. Not many of us would list “gentle” as an attribute we would want to see in our leaders, or even ourselves.
Yet in the only place in the entire Gospels where Jesus talks about his own heart, Jesus says he is “gentle and lowly of heart” (Matthew 11:29). At the animating core of his personality, Jesus is gentle. This means he is humble, meek, not harsh, not reactionary, not easy exasperated. He is the most approachable, accessible person who has ever lived. Dane Ortland writes, “The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” Jesus is gentle.
And as we see in the fruit of the Spirit, God desires that we become gentle in the reflection of our Lord. Unfortunately, very few people would use the adjective “gentle” to describe the American church today. We are often known for our harshness, anger and alarmism rather than gentleness. How can we cultivate gentleness in our community? First, by receiving rest from Jesus in our weariness (Matthew 11:28-29), then working to practice gentleness in the way we care for one another and interact with those around us (eg, 1 Peter 3:16).
As you prepare for worship this week, read Psalm 23 in an unfamiliar translation and meditate on God has a tender shepherd caring for you, his sheep.
Galatians 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Matthew 11:28–29
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”