Condescension

In today’s culture, we think of this word in its negative definition. We think that to be condescending means to talk down to someone as though they are inferior to us. Many of us have probably, at one time, felt as though we have been treated this way, and many of us have, at one time or another, been accused of treating someone in this way. But, there is a wonderful, beautiful side of this word that we, as Christians, should understand.

Christ Jesus condescended to us. The definition of condescension that we want to consider here is Webster’s second definition for the word: “Thevoluntary descent from one’s rank or dignity in relations with an inferior.” As we move into the new year, having once again celebrated the birth of Christ, we understand the beauty of the Lord’s condescension to us. Hebrews 1:3 tells us He (the Son) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” This one “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6-7). He came to us and made his dwelling amongst us. (John 1:14) What an amazing God we have! That He would send his only son to rescue us!

While we rightfully rejoice at the condescension of our Lord to us, while we celebrate his love for those who were his enemies, there is another level of condescension we are to experience in the Christian life—though perhaps condescension may not be the proper word. We Christians do not “descend” to those we are called to reach. As Brennan Manning is quoted as saying, “We are simply beggars telling other beggars where to find bread.” Nevertheless, the extreme servanthood humility lived out by our Lord serves as both an example and a calling for the Christian. The apostle Paul speaks to the compassion and empathy we are called to in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 where he says,“To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (ESV). Notice here that there is no pride in the disciple’s words. He does not consider himself “better than” those he is trying to reach. Rather, the wondrous humility of Christ was exemplified in the life of the apostle as he met his audience, whoever they were, in ways they could understand.

This is the call Christ has given every Christian. We are to be salt and light (Matt 5:13-16). We are to bring the hope of the gospel to the world in ways that the people of the world can relate to. We must meet them where they are, as they are. Our Lord came to us as we were, in our lost state, still shackled by the chains of sin and self. The Apostle Paul, understanding himself as the “worst” of sinners (1 Tim 1:15) did not refuse to associate with those who did not have the same convictions or experience as he. Rather, Paul understood that to be a follower of Christ meant to continue in the very mission of Christ, the reconciliation of humans to God.

Historically, the church has often grown confused as to their identity and calling. Though we are to be holy and unlike the world, we are not called to seclude ourselves from the world. Though we are made the righteousness of God by the cross of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), we are not primarily called to preach an expectation of morality apart from the work of Christ. The height of righteousness and holiness is obedience. We are called to obey the commission of Christ to the mission of bringing the gospel to the world. There is not true Christian righteousness that is void of obedience to this primary and central calling. We have been given one mission and that mission is to bring the gospel to the world and make disciples, just as Christ and his apostles did. “No servant is greater than his master.” Thus, we are called to meet those in our lives on their level, at their point of need, as they currently are. For this is how and where Christ met us.

With this call to show the love of Christ to the world, comes the necessary aspect of communication of the gospel to the world. This necessarily involves listening to those in the world so that we can communicate the love and truth of the gospel in ways that they can understand. As we still live in the world, this can often become confusing as we consider just how we are to carry out our calling. The world tries to teach us that love is affirmation, acceptance, and even the embracing of any chosen lifestyle. We know from common sense, and more importantly from the Word of God, that this is not the case. However, as people who still live in this world, and are often still influenced by the world, our fears can deceive us into thinking that in order to communicate love and relate to people on their level, we must keep silent regarding offensive matters.

This indeed may be the case from time to time. Part of the Apostle Paul’s being “all things to all people” must have included his voluntary setting aside of the convictions and traditions of Judaism in order to minister to Gentiles. Paul would not have insisted the Gentiles become as he, a Jew, was. Indeed, the letter to the Galatians is devoted to Paul coming against the false teachers in the church that were demanding that Gentile believers adopt the traditions and religious observances of Judaism. Thus, Paul did indeed set aside what divided him from those he was trying to reach.

It may then be the case that we also need to set aside discussion of worldly things that we know are offensive to our target audience, or that we know will divide us from them. Indeed, as we see exemplified in Paul, as we grow in Christ, those things of the world that divide us from neighbor, community, and even our enemies, must continually decrease their hold on us and the gospel’s hold on us must continually increase. Therefore, since the height of love, the calling of the Christian, and the very reason for our empathy is for the sake of the salvation of those we are called to—the gospel itself must never be set aside.

It is for the gospel’s sake that we meet people at their level. It is for the gospel’s sake that we have compassion, love and empathy for those we are trying to reach. It is for the gospel’s sake (as well as our own relationship with our God) that we allow ourselves to be conformed to the image of Christ in every relationship. We do not do these things for the sake of popularity. We do not do these things to promote peace or goodwill. We meet people as they are, we love them as they are because that is how Christ has loved us, and that is how Christ loves them. We meet them and love them as they are, for the very purpose of sharing the saving gospel of Christ with them.

Praise be to the God who has condescended to us. Praise be to the God who did not leave us in the miry clay, shackled by sin and death. Praise be to the God who does not leave us as He finds us, but makes us into new creations. Praise be to the God who knew us as we were and yet loved us, rescued us, and remade us into a people that He will conform into the image of Christ. May the great love of God in Christ move us to lay our lives as his feet for his use.

Pastor Brian Torres

February 1, 2024

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