Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from God. Beginning with Jesus, the lamb of God, the church has long believed that Christians are not to be aggressive. We want to lead quiet, peaceful, godly lives.
Gentleness is not the same as giving in to evil. People who are gentle are often effective in speaking the truth and advocating for justice. People often get confused on this point because they confuse anger with truth. The Bible says that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Calmly and consistently stating the truth is the most effective way to advance the cause of justice in this world.
Gentleness works. Gentleness works because it takes time to achieve anything of value. A person who alienates other people may get their way in the moment but will not accomplish anything of lasting importance. Gentleness builds the relationships and community and harmony that make a difference in the world.
In our Sunday sermon we will look at James 3:13-18 and the fruit of the Spirit that is gentleness.