The World’s Favor for the Stubborn Hearted: A Reflection on Gentleness and Its Place in Ministry
Introduction: It is a hard truth that often seems to ring louder than any other: the world appears to favor the stubborn-hearted. It rewards aggression, dominance, and a lack of compromise, while gentle, honest, and humble individuals often find themselves taken advantage of, left unheard, or worse, dismissed altogether. This reality brings a dissonance into our lives, especially for those of us who walk the path of faith and service. But is gentleness a weakness, or is it an intentional and powerful expression of Christ-like character?
I remember years ago, during my time at seminary, a statement by the head of my ordination and theological training institute that shook me deeply: “Gentle people cannot be priests.” Those words felt like a dagger to the heart, for in that moment, I found myself questioning the very nature of gentleness in the calling of a servant of God. If gentleness, a quality so central to the teachings of Christ, was to be cast aside for the sake of leadership, what then was the cost of remaining gentle in a world that seems to demand the opposite?
The World’s Reward for the Stubborn-Hearted: When we take a closer look at the patterns of this world, it becomes clear that those who wield power, control, and an unyielding attitude often get ahead. The stubborn-hearted seem to gain favor in the eyes of the world, while those who walk in humility, gentleness, and honesty are perceived as weak or naïve. In many situations, the world operates on the principle that only the loudest, the most assertive, and the most ruthless will succeed.
Those who are gentle often find themselves exploited. Their kindness is mistaken for weakness. The belief that such individuals won’t react to injustice leads others to take advantage of them. Their ideas are stolen, their hard work is ignored, and their services go unpaid or underappreciated. The gentle-hearted person often finds themselves left in the margins of success, without the same recognition and reward as those who play the game with aggression. In some circles, this becomes a cycle that can be difficult to break.
Even in places that are meant to represent God’s Kingdom, we find this same unfortunate reality. In the very house of God, where the fruits of the Spirit—such as gentleness—are meant to be cultivated and nurtured, the same patterns of favoritism and exploitation emerge. The church, meant to be a sanctuary for the meek and humble, too often follows the ways of the world.
The Struggle with Ministry and Gentleness: I have wrestled with this reality for years, especially in ministry. From the very start of my journey, I remember being perplexed by the statement that gentle people cannot be priests. This felt like a contradiction, considering the teachings of Jesus, who Himself exemplified the gentleness of heart (Matthew 11:29). Christ’s life was characterized by love, patience, and gentleness, and yet, I was being told that these very traits were unsuitable for leadership within the Church.
Why would the Church, the body of Christ, deny the gentle-hearted a place of authority? Why would the very qualities that reflect the character of Christ be seen as liabilities rather than virtues?
This question has plagued me for over 17 years in ministry. The demands of leadership and the expectations of the world, and sometimes even of the Church itself, seem to stand in stark contrast to the spirit of gentleness. It is as though gentleness is viewed as a sin, or at the very least, a flaw—something to be worked out of you in order to serve effectively.
Gentleness: A Strength, Not a Weakness: The misconception that gentleness equates to weakness or inability has deeply impacted my view of leadership and service. But I have come to believe that this perspective is not only wrong—it is damaging.
Gentleness is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. It is not a virtue that makes us passive or submissive to the injustices of the world, but rather a strength that chooses to respond to injustice with grace and dignity. The world may not value gentleness, but in the Kingdom of God, gentleness is a powerful force that reflects Christ’s nature and love.
Jesus Himself was the epitome of gentleness. He taught that the meek would inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5), and He called His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them (Matthew 5:44). Christ’s ministry was marked by a willingness to serve others, to listen, and to offer compassion and care. He did not wield power through domination, but through the humility of service.
In the same way, I believe that gentleness is the very foundation of true leadership in the Church. A leader who embodies gentleness is one who leads not by force, but by influence—a leader whose character draws others to Christ, rather than driving them away.
The Call to Be Gentle: As I reflect on this struggle, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” The call to gentleness is not a call to passivity, nor is it an invitation to be exploited. Rather, it is a call to lead with humility, patience, and love, responding to others with the same compassion that Christ has shown to us.
We live in a world that constantly tells us that in order to succeed, we must be ruthless, aggressive, and relentless. But the way of Christ is different. The Kingdom of God operates on principles that turn the world’s values upside down. Gentleness, humility, and love are not weaknesses to be avoided, but strengths to be embraced.
In ministry, the call is not to fight the world’s system with the world’s methods, but to serve the world with the heart of Christ. The gentle-hearted leader may not always be the loudest or the most commanding, but they will always be the one who reflects the heart of Christ the clearest.
Conclusion: The struggle to remain gentle in a world that values strength through force is not an easy one. It is a tension that many of us feel, particularly in leadership roles. However, I believe that gentleness is not a flaw but a blessing—a characteristic that reflects the heart of God. In a world that may favor the stubborn-hearted, we must remember that gentleness is the way of Christ and the true measure of leadership in the Kingdom of God.
As I continue my journey in ministry, I remain convinced that gentleness is not a sin, but a sacred calling. It is my prayer that the Church, and all of us who serve in it, would embrace this calling more fully, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ to a world in desperate need of it.
Peace ✌
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