On Christian Meekness

This is a blog I wrote in response to an excerpt from Friedrich Nietzsche's Antichrist, I posted it on my new blog: idlemumbling.tumblr.com, I hope you enjoy!

Christianity is called the religion of pity.—Pity stands in opposition to all the tonic passions that augment the energy of the feeling of aliveness: it is a depressant. A man loses power when he pities. Through pity that drain upon strength which suffering works is multiplied a thousandfold. Suffering is made contagious by pity; under certain circumstances it may lead to a total sacrifice of life and living energy—a loss out of all proportion to the magnitude of the cause (—the case of the death of the Nazarene)…. Nothing is more unhealthy, amid all our unhealthy modernism, than Christian pity. - Friedrich Nietzsche (The Antichrist-Section 7)

In the realm of postmodern philosophy (and general modern thought), the concept of religion is one that is looked upon with ill contempt. The quote above, from Nietzsche is meant to essentially summarize, probably more harshly than most would state it, the views on Christianity as many have come to know them. More specifically, what Nietzsche points out is that Christians are the weakest link in society due to our submissive nature to God, and recognition of our sinful, corrupt, and deficient human nature. Nietzsche claims that our praise of pity (which I will interchange with meekness), is the greatest of human flaws. To view mankind as anything other than the “alpha-species” in the universe, insofar as we know it, is a sign of weakness and waste. In the aforementioned quote, Nietzsche exclaims that their is nothing that weakens the human race more, inhibits our evolutionary processes, and essentially contorts human progress than the essential mindset of a modern Christian. Nietzsche even goes so far as to claim that Christ’s pity on mankind, and his general meek spirit are the cause of his own death. Had he been more bold, he would have experienced life to the fullest, and not been crucified at the hands of his enemies.
The flaw in Nietzsche view on Christians, our attitudes, and ultimately our meek, pitiful spirits is this: our meekness does not inhibit our progress, it permits it. Take for example this quote by Carl Sagan in The Varieties of Scientific Experience:

Consider how we bow our heads in prayer, making a gesture of submission that can be found in many other animals as they defer to the alpha male. We’re enjoined in the Bible not to look God in the face, or else we will die instantly. Submissive males of many species, including our own, avert their eyes before the alpha male.

Sagan, an agnostic, claims here that we have this attitude towards God that is submissive, drenched in fear, and we live daily unsure of whether or not our potential mistakes will lead to our termination from existence. Now, I do believe it is true and necessary to submit to the Father in fear, but that is not the only necessary reason to submit to the Father. A fear based faith is a faith half-lived. The significance of our existence is not to wander about in fear of death, our existence gains significance through the dispersion of truth. We rule in communion with the Father, through recognition of and submission to His sacrifice, and power to rise from death post-crucifixion. We lay down our lives in submission to the Father because we know they were given freely to us, we did nothing of our own accord to stimulate life among ourselves. It is through this recognition of our place in the universe, and amalgamation with God that we can progress past our fallen, broken knowledge. The claim that the meekness of Christians inhibits the progress of the human race is a fallacious claim on a principle that is misunderstood by the skeptic.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3: 12-18

We, as true believing Christians, through our faith and hope in Jesus Christ have attained a boldness, power, and love beyond all measure. The Christian “pity,” or meekness, has been horrifyingly misconstrued as a true recognition of our origin, fallen nature, and position in the universe. Man remains at the center of nothing but God’s grace. We achieve meaning, purpose, and truth through God. This is not a blind claim that man should shut his mind off to anything that is not within the pages of the Bible, because I am in no way claiming that (a topic for another post, I suppose). What I am claiming, however, is that the Christ found in the Bible provides grace, redemption, meaning, and power. Not power for the will of the individual (i.e. selfish intent), but power through and for His Spirit and will. To claim that Christians are weak, pitiful, meaningless inhibitors of human progress is without a shadow of a doubt a claim bred out of hatred bias, rooted in fallacious logic. This claim proves the ignorance not only of the scriptures, but Christ and his true followers. Friedrich Nietzsche, and those who think like him, make claims on that which they do not know, seething on prey they think an easy target. Throughout the scriptures we see acts of great courage, power, and boldness that contradict the claims made in The Antichrist. Those who are genuine followers of Christ fear nothing because to “live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Whom shall we fear, and what earthly creature shall we bow down to? The answer is a resounding “NO ONE!”
In conclusion, the submissive, servant attitude of Christians stems not from an inability to rise to the true potential of mankind. It stems from a desire to live a life according to the Gospel, following Christ’s example, serving others while living boldly in the power provided to us by the Father. Meekness does not consent to suffering, but suffering is something that Christ warns will follow the believer. Meekness does, however, inherit the earth, and allow those who serve the Father and steward creation to dwell with God, ruling alongside Him. There is no greater power found than that which comes from man’s submissive heart and gentle spirit, a concept many brilliant minds cannot grasp.