Humility not stupidity please!
As a Catholic Christian I am fed up with our society's definition of humility. It seems like our society views humility as self debasement,perpetual passiveness, and, being overly compliant. It seems like it is vogue to say such things as, "oh I suck, I am no good, they are better than me", etc. I am so annoyed by self centered Hollywood actors pleading or even better yet crying, during some environmental, or save the animals campaigns, or self gloating politicians who smile gleefully in strategic photo ops, or better yet phony, corporate marketing executives who run adds on T.V. showcasing their gregariousness, making us all think like they are all reincarnated Mother Theresa's. Plain and short this is not humility, this is stupidity!
My argument is that our society's and even our church's current view of humility is in some way linked to the feminization of men; a movement that I argue has been taking place and gathering steam over the last decade. Author Christina Hoff Summers in her provocative book, "The War against Boys: How Misguided Feminism is Harming our Boys” speaks about this feminization trend and how it can be damaging to boys,
“No one denies that boys’ aggressive tendencies must be checked and channeled in constructive ways. Boys need discipline, respect, and moral guidance. Boys need love and tolerant understanding. They do not need to be pathologized.” (14)
Now contrast this weakling motion of humility to St. Paul in his second letter the Timothy:
"...for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self control." 2 Timothy 1:7
Or...
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness." Ephesians 6:11-12
So why does St. Paul use this war like imagery in his writing? Because the reality is that humility is a sign of strength, a rightful recognition of our place before God. Humility in essence is truth. Michael Jordan calling himself the greatest basketball player is not arrogance it is truth; it can be proven, thus it can be accepted. Me calling myself the greatest basketball player from Elizabeth, NJ is arrogant why? because simply I am not. (I do possess a mean hook shot though) Humility is truth, not stupidity!
Once we recognize our God given identity then we possess true humility, we become like Christ, who was gentle with the outcasts, and rejected; yet stern, confrontational, and condemning to the self righteous. Humility is the successful interplay between being strong and forceful while being loving and supportive when needed. So to all the guys out there be strong! Be bold, be courageous! We need more William Wallace's, General Patton's, and St. Paul's out there. Our country desperately needs it, our faith demands it, our women crave it. True humility is contagious pass it on!
My argument is that our society's and even our church's current view of humility is in some way linked to the feminization of men; a movement that I argue has been taking place and gathering steam over the last decade. Author Christina Hoff Summers in her provocative book, "The War against Boys: How Misguided Feminism is Harming our Boys” speaks about this feminization trend and how it can be damaging to boys,
“No one denies that boys’ aggressive tendencies must be checked and channeled in constructive ways. Boys need discipline, respect, and moral guidance. Boys need love and tolerant understanding. They do not need to be pathologized.” (14)
Now contrast this weakling motion of humility to St. Paul in his second letter the Timothy:
"...for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self control." 2 Timothy 1:7
Or...
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness." Ephesians 6:11-12
So why does St. Paul use this war like imagery in his writing? Because the reality is that humility is a sign of strength, a rightful recognition of our place before God. Humility in essence is truth. Michael Jordan calling himself the greatest basketball player is not arrogance it is truth; it can be proven, thus it can be accepted. Me calling myself the greatest basketball player from Elizabeth, NJ is arrogant why? because simply I am not. (I do possess a mean hook shot though) Humility is truth, not stupidity!
Once we recognize our God given identity then we possess true humility, we become like Christ, who was gentle with the outcasts, and rejected; yet stern, confrontational, and condemning to the self righteous. Humility is the successful interplay between being strong and forceful while being loving and supportive when needed. So to all the guys out there be strong! Be bold, be courageous! We need more William Wallace's, General Patton's, and St. Paul's out there. Our country desperately needs it, our faith demands it, our women crave it. True humility is contagious pass it on!
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