Humility isn’t really a prized cultural value, is it? That’s what makes the reading from Luke’s gospel so difficult. Take a moment and read through the gospel. You may also want to listen to this week’s sermon to get a feel for the breadth of the gospel reading.
When we speak of humility, doesn’t it seem as though it is the same as “passivity”? Can a person be humble and be a leader? Can a person be humble and speak their mind or stand their ground?
When Jesus speaks of humility, does that mean that we’re supposed to settle for mediocrity?
As I shared in the sermon on Sunday, this is one of the difficulties of this Scripture. If we look elsewhere in the New Testament, we hear Paul encouraging us to use our gifts for the benefit of the whole body of Christ. So, if someone else has a gift that I don’t have, should my lack of giftedness cause that person to hold back from fully utilizing their gift? That would be silly, wouldn’t it?
Likewise, people tend to get into “turf wars”. When you are in conversations and you see people arguing and defending some “turf” – ask yourself “Who is being honored here?” And “Are the people who are fighting doing so with a spirit of humility?” It will most definitely give you some perspective that you can help people gain perspective and come to resolution. (For more on this topic, see “For Further Reflection” below).
This Week
- Read the Scriptures below, especially the passage from Luke’s gospel.
- As you go through your week, carry the word “humility” with you. See what questions it raises for you as you find yourself in conflict or as you watch others in conflict.
- Pray for the situation in Syria: for the President and Congress of the United States, for the leaders and people of Syria.
Scriptures
For Further Reflection
In preparation for this past Sunday’s sermon, I came across excerpts from and article by William Easum entitled, “On Not Being Nice for the Sake of the Gospel.” He begins by writing:
Throughout my consulting ministry, I have seen a disturbing pattern: Most established churches are held hostage by bullies. Some individual or small group of individuals usually opposes the church’s making any radical change, even if it means the change would give the church a chance to thrive again.
I’m convinced that one of the main sins of the Church is that we have taught ourselves to be nice instead of Christian. In spite of aspiring to be Jesus’ disciples, we teach that the essence of Christianity is to be nice.
One of the basic lessons I’m learning as a consultant: Before renewal begins in a church or denomination, normally someone has to leave or be denied. Almost every time a dying church attempts to thrive once again, someone tries to bully the leaders out of the attempt. And almost every time a turn-around takes place, such persons are lost along the way because they are no longer allowed to get their way. When they can’t get their way, they leave. Not even Jesus got through the journey with all of the Disciples. Why should we expect to?
Of course, we should not set out to intimidate the bully or to kick people out of the church. But a strong response means that we care enough about the future of our church not to allow anyone to stifle its ability to liberate people from bondage or victimization. It also means that we care enough about the bully that we will not allow him or her to intimidate the church, because we know the spiritual vitality of both the bully and the church is at stake.
Epicurious Lutheran 