An interesting thing happened this past week at church. Actually, at 2 churches. There's the one that I attend in Knoxville, and then there is Highland View in Oak Ridge where I grew up. Last week due to a number of circumstances, Mandi ended up going to church in Oak Ridge, while I went to Knoxville. The OR church had a guest speaker, their last in a summer series that they've been having for a number of years. I don't particularly remember what Mandi said the main message was about, but she mentioned that they talked a good deal about the passage dealing with turning the other cheek (Matt 5:39), and that the meek will inherit the earth (Matt 5:5).
As Mandi related this particular part of the lesson, and what it was that bothered her about it, I realized how much it bothered me as well. The speaker for the evening had talked about how difficult it would be for him to turn the other cheek if someone were to come up and threaten him and his family. He also talked about how it'd be better for someone that would break in to his home and attack his family to not be there when he got home, since he might be inclined to not show restraint. What?!? I wasn't there, but the way Mandi explained it made it seem as if the speaker would rather come home late after everything had happened, and give it a few days before doing anything about it. Luckily for him, apparently his wife wasn't in attendance.
She was also there for class on Sunday morning, where they were apparently following up on this subject, or at least it turned to it. The idea of meekness came up, and one of the ladies who teaches the younger children began saying how difficult it is for her to teach children the concept of turning the other cheek, and taking things without reacting. I don't know, but it just seems like the church wants a bunch of people that will just take anything regardless of who it might be harming.
It was quite the coincidence, however, when at church on Sunday in Knoxville, the exact same message was coming up, but with a completely different view. Our preacher addressed the idea of turning the other cheek in a way that I hadn't heard before. He stated that the idea of being struck on the cheek is like that of an insult, as a cultural type of insult. Therefore, turning the other cheek does not refer to allowing someone to just pummel you with punches, but that you do not react to someone that is hurling insults at you. You don't fight their insults with insults of your own, but rather you take them, and allow them to spew venom without reducing yourself to their type of mentality. I hadn't heard of it approached in that manner, but it appeals to me much more than the idea that everyone in the church should simply allow someone to run all over them and take advantage of them while we stand by and do nothing.
The other passage dealing with meekness required a definition of the word. What do you think of when you hear the word meek? I picture some pansy guy that can't do anything, and everyone is able to do whatever they want to him because, well, he won't do anything to defend himself. Here's the very first definition from Merriam-Webster. Meek: 1) enduring injury with patience and without resentment. I hadn't thought that someone described as meek could have a chance at having something good to describe them. But that's exactly what is being described in the passage. The meek will inherit the kingdom. This doesn't mean people that just roll over and give in to everything, and let everyone else run all over them. No! It means that people that can endure the hardship that will come, those that can handle the ridicule of claiming Christ, that can "turn the other cheek" at those that would mock, they will inherit the kingdom.
I found it incredibly refreshing to hear that message on Sunday, especially in contrast to the ones that Mandi heard. Why does everyone in the church feel like we should all just take everything, never defend ourselves, or each other for that matter, in times when anyone in their right mind would defend themselves? How can a speaker get up and say that if someone were to break in to his home and attack his wife that he had better be gone before he gets home since he might react badly? Jesus didn't come here and hope that he didn't offend anybody. He didn't just take things that were clearly wrong, and just allow it to continue out of "meekness". Is there a time to be humble? Of course. Does that mean that the church should be made of women, and as my preacher put it, effeminate men? I sure hope not.
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1 comment:
good post. I have thought of this as well in addition to hearing in in sermons and devotionals. I like what someone said, "meekness isnt weakness." Jesus was meek and he could have dropped several legions of Arch Angels at any time to rescue him... but HE stood there and took the insults that everyone was blasting him with. That is an amazing, humbling, mind blowing, aspect of our Savior. I love the side of HIM that does throw down too: Of course the temple scene, but also when HE is trashing the Pharisees and it climaxes with Jesus saying: before Abraham was born, I AM! its an awesome display of courage and power. meekness is not weakness.
Thanks for the post.
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