What Does it Mean to be Gentle as a Christian Creative?
We’re all worried that we’re going to be taken advantage of. Or, that we’re not going to get what’s ours. The reality is: you might not get what’s yours, and it’s very likely you will be taken advantage of at some point in your life. Almost all creatives have experienced this.
Gentleness, a fruit of the Spirit, feels like anti-Darwinism. It seems counterintuitive to say that life may be more than survival of the fittest, and that only the strong survive. After all, if we don’t fight for ourselves, who will?
Gentleness is very doable with someone who’s gentle in return, but feels impossibly difficult when someone disagrees or conflicts with you. As a result, when push comes to shove, we really don’t like being gentle.
This likely comes from a couple of mistakes we make regarding what it means to be gentle. The first is an assumption that we make. The second is something that we miss.
Regarding the assumption, we tend to think gentleness means passivity, non-action. Actually, it’s much more than that.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” is how Proverbs chapter 15 starts. Notice the focus of the action in this verse. There’s a choice to be made; either of which leads to a result. It’s up to the person making the choice to decide which outcome is preferred. A harsh word fuels anger. A gentle answer means proactively taking a step that will bring benefit to both parties.
The thing that we miss with gentleness is that it’s God who ultimately fights the battles for us. We’re so convinced that we have to get and protect what’s ours (including respect, reputation and resources) that we forget that God will provide all these things and he will never take advantage of us. “But my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
In those moments where it seems gentleness won’t be enough, remember that God is taking care of you while accomplishing his purposes in you, and in the lives of those you love.
