The Strength of Gentleness

One of the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. In several places various NT authors exhort us to gentleness. Jesus is described as being gentle. So we know this is important. But what is it? Too many seem to think gentle is a synonym for milksop. What does it really mean?

As an illustration, I'd like to turn to one of the greatest scenes in all of television.

At the end of the fantastic animated series Justice League Unlimited, the tyrannical and powerful Darkseid leads the forces of Apokolips to invade earth, wanting no longer to conquer it but just to destroy it. It's all hands on deck as every hero, and even some supervillains, joins the fight to save the world. While the rest of the heroes handle the armies of Apokolips, Superman faces off against Darkseid. That's when we get a speech where the Man of Steel explains:

I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard, always taking constant care not to break something, to break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control even for a moment or someone could die. But you can take it, can't you, big man? What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show just how powerful I really am.

Then the man who can split mountains with one punch hits Darkseid with everything he's got. It's glorious. You can watch the scene here.

What does this have to do with gentleness? Good question. My claim is that Superman, by far the strongest man on earth, is also the gentlest.

Gentleness is not weakness. Gentleness is not being a doormat or a coward. Gentleness is strength restrained for the good of the other.

Gentleness looks like a man who can break mountains hugging a child without hurting it or picking up an egg without smashing it.

Jesus is described as gentle for the same reason. A king who could have come leading legions of angels comes instead as a baby. A man who can kill with a word suffering in silence as his enemies mock him as he is being tortured to death.

The concept of gentleness assumes strength. Someone who cannot break an egg is not gentle; he's weak. If you couldn't hurt someone if you tried, you'd better be a doormat for your own safety. But that's not what Christians are called to.

We're called to gentleness, which means we're called to strength restrained.

That looks like a man who could beat down the guy who insulted him apologizing instead. It looks like a husband carefully refusing to ever physically intimidate his wife. It looks like a person with a quick mind and a sharp tongue resisting the temptation to filet the ego of someone who deeply deserves it.

Why? For the good of the other. Christ's people are called to be people who forgive, who protect the weak, who do not take revenge, who do no harm so that others will see the character of Jesus in us, so they will find the gospel attractive.

So don't be weak. Be strong. But use that strength carefully. Show them who Jesus is.


Image via Pixabay