Charis

I’ve been listening to and teaching with Gregory Dickow’s 2-lesson series, Absolute Freedom from Anger. for the last few weeks in our marriage small group. It’s a great teaching for a number of reasons. Dickow provides strong, clear, biblical instruction on how to deal with anger, and he also highlights the many reasons we need to confront our anger and master it. For those who need motivation beyond Paul’s injunction to “put off anger” (Colossians 3:5), Dickow discusses the physical and emotional toll that anger can exact from us and those who become the objects of our anger.

He finishes with a discussion of Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” I’ve never heard a good explanation of meekness, and I confess that when I heard the word in the past, I thought of “Jesus, meek and mild” and the wimpy-looking figure presented as Jesus in children’s Sunday school handouts. Dickow is quick to confront the stereotype of meekness as weakness. He says,

It is an inner strength that manifests itself through kindness and self-control. Being meek does not mean being weak. The ability to turn the other cheek takes more strength than retaliating. That’s meekness: when you have the strength to do something, but you choose not to because you understand that self-control is greater than the mighty.

He goes on to give a picture of meekness that I find exciting and empowering: a race horse. Dickow explains that a broken and trained horse is “meek”; the horse is not any less powerful or strong, but it has learned to channel that strength and power toward a productive, positive goal—winning the race. That’s something I can understand, appreciate, and aspire to: taking control of what could threaten my well-being (my emotions, my responses) and directing them toward my goals.

As I researched meekness, I found this great explanation from an article in Discipleship Journal; Matt Friedeman writes:

If we are to understand this beatitude, it is crucial to examine it against the backdrop of Jesus’ culture. The Greek word for meek was commonly used to describe wild animals that had been domesticated—trained, tamed, and otherwise harnessed—so that the savage beast became capable of working profitably alongside man. The image that presents itself in this definition is not lack of energy or strength; rather, power under control.

This photo, by Andy Hare, perfectly capture this: we don’t have to look very hard to see the tremendous power in them that could burst forth—but these horses have learned control.

Friedeman goes on to explain what he learned about meekness from a horse trainer (the whole article is worth reading and pondering), and he concludes:

What does it mean, then, for us to become truly meek? My friend’s description of a meek horse could well define the characteristics of a dynamic Christian. Willing to undergo a lifetime of training so that no coercion to obedience is required; just a gentle tug from the Holy Spirit. A special relationship with the Master that gives him the ability to sense the false and confusing direction of the Evil One. Working with the Master in tandem—even when His immediate presence is not felt. Unshakable commitment and loyalty.

I love that: willing to undergo a lifetime of training so that no coercion to obedience is required; just a gentle tug from the Holy Spirit. That’s what I want—and I suspect its what all of us who serve Christ really want, for obedience to come easily. But we only get to that place through training and being broken, through learning to yield ourselves to God. Friedeman’s article concludes with this thought: for those who learn meekness, “Instead of spending their energy in frivolous pursuits, their lives will reach their full potential—and they will inherit the earth.” I want to reach my full potential.