'Meek' Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does...
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
http://biblehub.com/kjvs/matthew/5.htm
The word 'meek' is an important one in Christianity. It pretty much defines the Christian culture, as it's generally taught in church, in a single word.
(Oxford Dictionary) Meek: quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.
Synonyms: submissive, yielding, unresisting, obedient, compliant, tame, biddable, tractable, acquiescent, deferential, weak, timid, frightened, spineless, spiritless, unprotesting, like a lamb to the slaughter
Of course, the word 'meek' doesn't actually appear in the original Bible, because they didn't speak English.
Funnily enough, the word that was used has almost the exact opposite meaning...
What Does 'Meek' Really Mean?
From Strong's Concordance:
4235 práos – meek, i.e. the necessary balance of exercising power and avoiding harshness.
http://biblehub.com/greek/4235.htm
4236 praótes– properly, temperate, displaying the right blend of force and reserve (gentleness). 4236 /praótes ("strength in gentleness") avoids unnecessary harshness, yet without compromising or being too slow to use necessary force.
WTF? I hear you cry... Displaying force? But, but, that's the exact opposite of what everyone's taught!
Indeed. Jesus, if he existed, said those who exercise power for the sake of good will inherit the earth!
It seems meek really means JUST.
just: based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
Just One Little Word...
If the quote was instead translated as follows, the whole Christian ethos (the characteristic spirit of a culture) would be totally different:
"Blessed are the JUST: for they shall inherit the earth."
This sounds far more logical. Don't you agree?
Isn't is amazing, how changing the meaning of one word could have such a profound effect on the whole of Christianity.
What a genius move this was by the PTB... Just one little word... Perhaps the pen really is mightier than the sword...
This is a very good point.
But it all doesn't hinge on just that word.
We are told to turn the other cheek and walk the extra mile.
We are told to return to no one evil for evil.
We are told to forgive someone "seventy times seven times"
But, as you say, we do that from a position of strength, not weakness.
Hi @stan
Forgiveness doesn't mean being a doormat, but that is essentially what the church teaches.
Logic dictates that turning the other cheek is not the complete teaching. If one did simply turn the other cheek, then we might as well disband the police... Why have courts & try crimes? Obviously there's a limit...
Besides, if we all turned the other cheek at all times, that would be criminal collusion in law - i.e. allowing crime to occur with your knowledge... It's a crime in itself.
Collusion is bad because if a criminal is allowed, they are emboldened, and go on to commit more crime. This is clearly not what Jesus, or anyone decent, would want.
So we have to use our common sense to pick the truth from Christianity, it doesn't offer it freely.
Thanks for commenting. :)
Very good points. We all have The Incredible Hulk's rage inside us just waiting to break out.
I think Jesus want's us to conquer that first.
Then He sends us into battle as useful servants.
This is my way if seeing it, coming from the Orthodox Christian viewpoint. It's basically the Non-Aggression Principle.