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GOP Leadership, ‘Ầnâ, And the PGA Championship

GOP Leadership, ‘Ầnâ, And the PGA Championship

Last updated on: September 11, 2024 at 12:50 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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GOP Leadership, ‘Ầnâ, And the PGA Championship 2024-09-11T12:50:43-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week proved to be another chaotic week in conservative politics. Many of the top conservative leadership traveled to Manhattan to parade for and defend criminal Trump. Their stunt backfired as it revealed what the current GOP leadership wants to do.

Deceive
Delay justice
Divide conservatives

Jesus

Image by Pixabay

The clown show didn’t remain in New York City. When the power-hungry conservative leadership returned to Washington D.C., M TJ once again put her foot in her mouth and revealed just how unchristian she is.

It appears the current GOP leadership has forgotten the teachings of Christianity and specifically Jesus about being meek (Matthew 5:5; 11:29.)

Meek

Meekness is defined as, “Mild, humble, or submissive quality.” Humility focuses on what we think of ourselves; meekness is what we think of others and how we treat them.

Put others first

Image by Pixabay

Unfortunately, not only do we live in a prideful and fallen world, our sinful nature makes us prideful and like the world, God calls His people to be set apart from (Exodus 19:5-6, 1 Peter 2:5.)

Because of this, Christianity emphasizes the need for God’s people to be meek, not prideful (Romans 12:3, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12, Titus 3:2.)

The Apostle Paul understood just how easy it is to become proud like the world from his Jewish upbringing (Acts 15:1-41; 23:6, Philippians 3:5.)

‘Ầnâ

Judaism places emphasis on meekness because God’s people are to be more like God than the proud world we live in. One of the greatest patriarchs of the Jewish faith Moses is described as the humblest man ever (Numbers 12:3.

Moses wasn’t perfect, and at times failed at self-control, but he learned from his failures and feared God. The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for meek isʿānâ and it can also mean, “To afflict, oppress, humble, or bowed down,” depending on its context.

Meekness is considered one of the greatest virtues in Judaism, although that is an oxymoron. Perhaps that is why a lot of people get greatness twisted. Too often God’s people seek earthly greatness when we should be striving for humility.

It certainly doesn’t help that meekness is associated with greatness in Judaism. Below are the greatest Jewish virtues.

Justice
Respect
Repairing the world
Honesty
Acceptance
Humility
Faithfulness
Gratitude
Caring
Happiness

Jesus and the New Testament writers describe our Lord as meek because they understood that in God’s kingdom, meekness is true greatness. Jesus was a humble King. He did not abuse His power like the idols of this world (Ephesians 2:6.)

The Beattitudes

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Jesus also reminded His followers to be meek because they are the ones who inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11-12, Matthew 5:5.) Yet, many people today still reject this humble King because He isn’t the powerful Savior they wanted.

The second Adam humbled Himself, whereas the first Adam sought power and earthly greatness. Andrew Murray writes, “Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike.” If we aren’t careful the pursuit of greatness and pride will blind us to the truth

The P. G. A. Championship

This week the golf world was shocked by the arrest of the number one golf player in the world. The player later stated, “It was all a big misunderstanding.”

Golf

Image by Pixabay

The irony is the misunderstanding was his alone. He should have humbled himself instead of thinking too much of himself and putting himself before others.

This is a lesson as old as sin itself, pride puffs us up (Romans 11:21-31.) It takes more power not to use the power we have. Meekness is the antidote for our corrupt hearts and sinful nature.

Pride
Deception
Greed

There is nothing more anti-Christian than putting ourselves above others because we serve a meek and humble King. But, we all do at times because we each have corrupt hearts.

For almost 30 years I have struggled with meekness due to my brain injury. The late Billy Graham once said, “Pride comes in looking at ourselves, meekness comes through looking at God.” True greatness is ‘ānâ!

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