THE TRAP OF MEEKNESS FOR CHRISTIAN MEN

Perhaps one of the greatest hindrances to living an effective Christian life is a misapplication of the word meekness as found in the oft-quoted verse of Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek…”.

In my recent years of advocacy for the Christian interests of some specific causes – Right to Life, as example – I have found a disturbing resistance (even stern rebuke) at the notion that a Christian would dare strongly advocate for causes that are very controversial and divisive in our culture.

Often, the resistance to my pleas for involvement by Christians in causes that are secular on the surface – as in politics, but which are actually deeply rooted in spiritual soil – is based on fear: “We violate our 501-C-3 charter!” or “We’ll cause The Lost to stay that way if we preach a difficult message like abortion is murder” or “Christians must love; not confront!”

I find in this behavior, and in these words, either a curious lack of awareness of the Guardian of the Culture mission assigned to all Christian males or of a deadly fearfulness that is condemned by God in scripture as a disqualifying sin. My concern is that Christian males have actually – by completely misapplying the concept of Christian meekness while preferring and assuming the nurturing, peace-making role primarily assigned to Christian women – have willfully abandoned their masculine duty as Watchmen on the Wall….or they have just become, as many spineless pastors are today, fearful. Here are a few thoughts in that regard.

FEAR: This emotion in the context of this essay (see Revelation 21:8) is properly present in a Believer only in the Fear of the Lord. If we fear God in the right sense, fear should not exist in the heart of a Christian male who should never give undo regard to what men might do unto him (see Hebrews 13:5-6). Absent the Fear of God, the Fear of Man rules. Fear – except the Divinely-directed, reverent, entirely-focused-on-God respect that is due Him – must not reside in the heart of a Christian man and he must not speak of having it without deep shame. Fear is sinful when found in a Christian man.

TIMIDITY: This trait isn’t the same as Christian male meekness

ARROGANCE: This trait is not the same thing as Christian assertiveness

LEGALISM: This attitude of the intellect and spirit is not the same as acting from one’s personal Confidence that is rooted in Christ, one’s Desire for Personal and Collective Righteousness, as well as Faithful Immersion in The Word with Persistent Memorization of Scripture.

SELF-WILL: A Christian man’s Willingness to lead, to say “Follow me as I follow Christ!” (see I Corinthians 11:1) is not pagan bravado, egomania or thinking more highly of oneself than is permissible for a Believer (see Romans 12:3). It is behavior that God expects from His men.

FROWARDNESS: This rebellious nature is not the same thing as Contending for the Faith (see Jude 3-4)

Too many men today – especially men professing Faith in Christ – are following the model of history that is rooted in the Paganism of the Canaanites and the Gnostics of the 1st Century A.D: to diminish the gender roles assigned by God to man and woman. Women – through their loving nurturing natures- are the civilizers and peace-makers of the culture. Men – when paired Divinely to a Godly woman – are to be Leaders, Protectors, Path-finders, Proclaimers of Righteousness and stalwart Defenders of the Faith; wise men possessing the Mind of Christ (see I Corinthians 2:16) while acting from the certain Knowledge that they can do anything God requires of them (see Philippians 4:13).

Anything less than the above is dreadful sin. Men are called to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His Might” (see Ephesians 6:10).

FINAL WORD TO CHRISTIAN MEN: Stand firm. Act as God intended men to act. “Be men! Stand fast in The Faith!” (see I Corinthians 16:13)

PUSH BACK AGAINST THE DESCENDING DARKNESS OF THIS CULTURE IN THIS PROPITIOUS AGE! “Quit Ye as men!”

Marshall M. Wood
Founder, The Christian Average Joe