Moment of Meditation: Not Violent but Gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)

[A pastor must be] not violent but gentle.
(1 Timothy 3:3)

Not Violent but Gentle

How do the Scriptures talk about God? He is love. He is the faithful Father and Husband of His Bride, the Church. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:10). "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart," Jesus says (Matthew 11:29).

Several times in the Gospels Jesus' disciples want to take violent action against those who opposed them. James and John wanted to call down fire from Heaven because a Samaritan village didn't accept the Gospel (Luke 9:54). Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the high priest's servants who came to arrest Jesus (John 18:10). In both instances, Jesus rebukes the disciples for their violent tendencies. They were forgetting that Jesus is "gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

As Jesus' representative to the congregation, the pastor is also to be gentle instead of violent. But gentleness is not pacifism. It is the firmness of being able to declare the truth in a very loving way (Ephesians 4:15). Being gentle, the pastor is able to diffuse tense situations without lashing out. Gentleness is love in action. Love shown to all people. Amen.