Meekness & Missions

We live in a world that worships power. People flock to assertiveness training sessions where they can learn to get ahead. But when was the last time you heard about a workshop on meekness? Books like Looking Out for No. 1 and Winning Through Intimidation are best-sellers in the cut-throat business world.

But missionaries are different, right? Missionaries have given up all rights to themselves. They should be experts on meekness. Well, if you are like me, we still have a lot to learn about Jesus’ radical call to meekness. In fact, I think missionaries suffer from two diseases that can be cured by meekness.

The first is the disease of superiority. Our missionary status symbols may be more subtle, but we still have them. For some, a 4-wheel-drive Toyota and a healthy ministry account might send a message of being exceptional missionaries. For others, working 16-hour days in a hospital or office may give a sense of superiority. A few may take pride in the fact that they have no indoor toilets or have exceptional ability to thrive in another language and culture, looking down on people who seem less competent. A sense of superiority often leads to the disease of racism, poisoning relationships with coworkers and the people to whom we minister.

The other sickness disease of inferiority. Missionaries with this disease become discouraged by a sense of incompetence, especially when they measure themselves against others who seem more capable. Some who have this disease come down with a variation of the illness called the “imposter syndrome.” Those with this syndrome do everything they can to hide their lack of ability and often worry that eventually their supporters and fellow missionaries will recognize their incompetence and reject them. For them, any kind of evaluation is a major threat. This disease leads to profound discouragement and interpersonal friction.

The best medicine for both of these diseases is a strong dose of biblical meekness. Meekness? Who wants to be meek? In many people’s minds, meekness and weakness are synonymous—they even rhyme! We tend to think of a meek missionary as a wimp who allows everyone to push him or her around. Yes, even missionaries live in a competitive world that worships influence, efficiency and competence.

Actually, true meekness requires unusual strength. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes that “meekness is essentially a true view of oneself…The person who is truly meek is the one who is truly amazed that God and others can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.” Because those who are meek have a biblical view of themselves, they treat others with gentleness, humility, and patience.

Dear missionary, meekness is a quality of God’s kingdom people. Once we understand how radical Jesus’ call to meekness is, we may be tempted to dismiss it as impossible. But we have supernatural resources and strong examples to follow, including Jesus Himself. And the rewards are eternal! Hang in there!