Christian Pipe Smokers

What’s helped me understand myself in relationship to other people is this: the beatitude of meekness. It is the ability to be both tender and mighty. It means I can sit with a person I know is carrying some type of dysfunction, without allowing that person to gaslight me, to manipulate me, to demean or belittle me.

I have learned to be gentle in my verbal expression of emotional boundaries: “Please stop saying that. It’s hurtful” or “I don’t appreciate being disrespected in that way.” Naturally, when I began setting boundaries, I received defensive responses. When you have been treated a certain way for so long and then gain agency over changing that dynamic, people closest to you will resist it.

But it is not Christian charity to become someone’s scapegoat, to be abused in any form by anyone. Believing this is one’s calling – to just put up with it silently – is a distorted perspective of love. I would go so far as to say that it is a form of false humility, in fact.

I have learned to be gentle in my verbal expression of emotional boundaries: “Please stop saying that. It’s hurtful” or “I don’t appreciate being disrespected in that way.” Naturally, when I began setting boundaries, I received defensive responses. When you have been treated a certain way for so long and then gain agency over changing that dynamic, people closest to you will resist it.

Craig Thompson wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 06:02 My understanding is that "meek" did not originally mean what we think it does today. A meek person was someone who had power over others but did not impose his/her wishes on on others. Humble is another word I have heard used to describe meek.

That is what one of my ministers preached anyway. Does anyone have other descriptions of "meek"?

Most of my life I have not understood the saying about the meek inheriting the earth. Until I heard that description of the word. After about 50 years of pondering that, now it makes sense to me.

Sorry if this is a tangent.

Hugo Drax wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 08:24

Craig Thompson wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 06:02 My understanding is that "meek" did not originally mean what we think it does today. A meek person was someone who had power over others but did not impose his/her wishes on on others. Humble is another word I have heard used to describe meek.

That is what one of my ministers preached anyway. Does anyone have other descriptions of "meek"?

Most of my life I have not understood the saying about the meek inheriting the earth. Until I heard that description of the word. After about 50 years of pondering that, now it makes sense to me.

Sorry if this is a tangent.

Not a tangent at all. That's a meaningful insight.

I've always thought of meekness as a form of politeness/kindly firmness more than the abject acceptance of poor treatment advocated by some.

What your definition seems to imply is more of a "justness" concept. The rich man who isn't a prick about it and doesn't toady his superiors nor kick his inferiors, who always pays his men their wages and honors God , will inherit the earth. He's a just steward.

"Praüs" is the word used, and I'm told that means "gentle." It's all Greek to me.

I'm sorry, but I geek out on this stuff!

FredS wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 11:31

Hugo Drax wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 08:24

Craig Thompson wrote: ↑16 Nov 2022, 06:02 My understanding is that "meek" did not originally mean what we think it does today. A meek person was someone who had power over others but did not impose his/her wishes on on others. Humble is another word I have heard used to describe meek.

That is what one of my ministers preached anyway. Does anyone have other descriptions of "meek"?

Most of my life I have not understood the saying about the meek inheriting the earth. Until I heard that description of the word. After about 50 years of pondering that, now it makes sense to me.

Sorry if this is a tangent.

Not a tangent at all. That's a meaningful insight.

I've always thought of meekness as a form of politeness/kindly firmness more than the abject acceptance of poor treatment advocated by some.

What your definition seems to imply is more of a "justness" concept. The rich man who isn't a prick about it and doesn't toady his superiors nor kick his inferiors, who always pays his men their wages and honors God , will inherit the earth. He's a just steward.

"Praüs" is the word used, and I'm told that means "gentle." It's all Greek to me.

I'm sorry, but I geek out on this stuff!

The issue I see with these concepts of meekness is that they start with a position of power as their base. The just/fair/righteous application of power to be sure, but still a step above the peasant. If we accept that "the earth" the meek shall inherit is the new earth, with an abundance of peace, then the implication is that the fair superintendent has a larger stake than his underlings. Granted, Christ added eight other groups who would be blessed, so maybe that evens the bill.

1 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
5 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 
6 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
7 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account."