Meekness in a Culture of Performance
by
Steve Watters
on Apr 2, 2008 at 1:27 PM
In a dense, but fascinating book called Mediated, Thomas de Zengotita explains that our lives have become so saturated with media influence that we are losing touch with what is real and that our reactions to a range of life situations has morphed into a "culture of performance" in which we often feel the need to perform certain expected reactions to everything we experience.
After reading Mediated, I picked up the classic devotional book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, written sixty years ago. Tozer addresses in that book the burden of artificiality that seems to dovetail with Mediated's commentary on our culture of performance. "I am sure," Tozer writes, "that most people live in secret fear that some day they will be careless and by chance an enemy or friend will be allowed to peep into their poor empty souls. So they are never relaxed. Bright people are tense and alert in fear that they may be trapped into saying something common or stupid."
He goes on to say,
This unnatural condition is part of our sad heritage of sin, but in our day it is aggravated by our whole way of life. Advertising is largely based upon this habit of pretense. "Courses" are offered in this or that field of human learning frankly appealing to the victim's desire to shine at a party. Books are sold, clothes and cosmetics are peddled, by playing continually upon this desire to appear what we are not.
The response Tozer offered readers in 1948 still has merit in the mediated world we know today:
The heart of the world is breaking under this load of ... pretense. There is no release from our burden apart from the meekness of Christ. Good keen reasoning may help slightly, but so strong is this vice that if we push it down one place it will come up somewhere else. To men and women everywhere Jesus says, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest."
Elsewhere Tozer writes, "Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort."
What relief could we find by following the meekness of Christ in our culture of performance?
1. a sassy sister had the following to say on Apr 2 at 2:07 PM:
I think we would find great relief in following Christ's meekness, because I believe that in doing so, we are more inclined to be more loving and forgiving towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Rachael had the following to say on Apr 2 at 4:31 PM:
Humility is a good thing. False humility can be an easy trap, though.
I suppose humility would be to consider others' needs over your own,
but it can be hard to know how it should be played out in real life and in terms of being indirect or direct in our interactions. Like someone might feel that being wishy-washy and non-expressive of their opinions ("I don't care"..."Anything's okay"...)might be 'selfless and humble', but at times it might be more selfless to actually state the opinion because the other(s) want to know. Tough. It's often a personality/habit thing, though cultural tendencies can be factors as well.
I wonder about some American cultures...I wonder if there is a lot more subtle (and blatant) pride in even the culturally-deemed 'acceptable' public mannerisms than in common mannerisms one would find in some other cultures (socioeconomic or international).
Personalities and cultures are so interesting!
But indeed it would be great if genuine humility would be practiced all over the world, cultures and personal tendencies aside....
We're all part of the human culture. And God's Kingdom transcends culture...wonderful!!
3. Michelle had the following to say on Apr 2 at 5:32 PM:
In response to number 2... I think real humility will make you bold, as you become less proud. The boldest people (a quiet boldness, not a desperate one) comes from those who don't have to worry about their pride.
False humility takes most boldness away.
4. C had the following to say on Apr 2 at 7:26 PM:
I had a terrible day today. This is exactly what I needed to hear/read. Thank you.
5. Sarah P. had the following to say on Apr 3 at 9:45 AM:
I think humility is realizing who God is, and who we are. That's why the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." I know that any day, at any time, my Lord has the perfect right to call me home, or to send me through several decades of a devastating illness. Every power of mind or body is granted daily by His grace alone. So then I delight all over again daily that I still have these gifts. :) As Michelle says (#3), I am finding that this gives me an inexhaustible well of boldness, much more than I used to try to muster up on my own.
6. Brian had the following to say on Apr 3 at 12:15 PM:
Michelle, can you please elaborate more on your meaning of "quiet boldness"?
At the same I do think there are moments when speaking up is a must. If we know what we are to do and fail to do it, God calls that sin (James 4:17). So how can we discern (apart from God's word and prayer) when it's appropriate to speak up or to remain silent?
7. Jules had the following to say on Apr 3 at 2:37 PM:
Humility and acting like a doormat are not synonymous. I am every bit a dominant leader, yet I ask God to give me a gracious spirit.
I work in the corporate world-avery demanding and abrupt environment. Yet when I made a pretty big mistake, I went to the COO (since it affected him), told him that I'd made a mistake, that I'd rectified it, and wondered what next steps he wanted me to take. I felt like an absolute idiot and thought he was of the same opinion.
Well a few weeks later he announced in a large meeting that he wanted to recognize me for taking responsibility for my work and said he was incredibly impressed with me and that I acted like the CEO of everything I did.
I think I'd always had this sneaky suspicion that being humble just doesn't cut it in the real world. My company is every bit the real world, and that demonstrated that God's principles hold true, regardless of the situation.
8. Rachael had the following to say on Apr 3 at 7:48 PM:
Michelle (3),
I am at times "bold", but often I am quiet. In some cases, I could see that humility could be compatible with boldness, if it is combined with selflessness. I like your idea of "quiet boldness" and would be curious to hear more.
Of course exerting one's opinions or even subtly putting others down in a smirking fashion is not humility. I've seen prideful boldness in Christian settings and I hate it with a passion. Hate it. It's annoying bannoying that even Christians can put others down.
However, I've most likely committed the offense I so hate, and if not as often in particular ways, of course pride would come up and bit in other ways....
Still I'm curious, though, about what you mean about quiet boldness...is it equivalent to being confident in Christ's strength?