In the last few days 2 friends have fallen out, the most powerful leader and the richest man in the world are no longer friends.
They have exchanged words as boxing blows in a ring.
Gentleness is no where to be seen. Humility is not the filter of their conversations.
It is the way of the world.
Is there another way? Yes!
“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you – I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ towards you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be towards some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.” 2 Corinthians 10:1-2
These opening verses reveal a different kind of leadership than what the world demonstrates to us today.
Paul’s approach to leadership can be seen in his choice of words, humility and the gentleness of Christ.
He had been accused of being timid in person but bold in his letters. It could have hurt him and maybe it did. But his response is not to fight back. He doesn’t see it as weakness rather He sees Christ within what He was accused of. When he is with them his approach was with humility and gentleness, that of Christ. He lives by this different standard.
There are times when we have to have difficult conversations. How do we bring correction? We do so with two virtues that are not opposites, gentleness and strength. Aggressiveness, power controls and attempts to dominate others are not within the Kingdom of God. We are from another standard where gentleness is greater than force, understanding greater than judgment and Christ’s love greater than law.
Missions Paul 