Well Known Reasonableness

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

While studying Philippians 4:1-9, I found the word study on “reasonableness” (ἐπιεικής) to be quite enlightening.  Another word for this is “gentleness” or “agreeable with what is right.”  This has a notion of the good kind of tolerance, not our modern notion of tolerance that is simply non-condemning.  Right tolerance bears with all error in order to lead to the truth.  So, you are reasonable, as you patiently wade through the lies to discover truth.  It can mean leniency or clemency, like a judge who does the right thing because he sees a bigger picture, rather than sticking strictly to the letter of the law.  With this, it can also mean, “that which is the fitting, right, or equitable.”  It is used to describe the seasoned man of experience who has a calm temperament that is not easily disturbed or angered.  I imagine an ER doctor who has seen a trauma wound a hundred times and he knows exactly what to do, and he calmly does what is right.  And here we see how the sentiment of this word goes further.  As a person agrees to what is right, he is then able to be of service.  A reasonable person does not dismiss those in error, but is patiently serving them so that they can come along to know the truth.  The reasonable man calmly applies truth in service to others.

Here is another place where the word is used.

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh.” – 2 Corinthians 10:1–2

Here it is translated as the meekness and gentleness of Christ.  Notice that Paul appeals to Christ’s gentleness in order to make a case for how he acts when he is around the Corinthians.  This kind of gentleness can be easily misunderstood it seems.  The Corinthians read Paul’s letters and interpreted him as being harsh and bold, but then when Paul was in person, he appeared to be weak with them.  So, how can Paul be firm and unmoving in the truth and yet tolerant and lenient in person?  It’s because Paul does not operate according to the flesh, but in trusting a divine power.  His gentleness highlights God’s power, because Paul is not walking according to his flesh.  Paul’s divinely focused confidence in the truth empowers him to be humble when face to face.

This gentleness with respect to a greater divine power is exactly what Jesus demonstrates.  It’s like a Corvette driving five under the speed limit, with caution and self-control.  This power under careful control is exhibited in Christ in Philippians 2. 

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:5–8

Christ had all the power of God, yet he humbled himself to serve us.  This is the meekness and gentleness of Christ.  Christians too have a heavenly identity that gives us calm in this life and an other-worldly power that is under control.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21

And now we understand better why these two phrases are put side by side in Philippians 4:5, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone,” and “The Lord is at hand.”  We are able to be gentle and reasonable because we are remembering that the Lord is at hand.  Here is one evidence that God is present in your life: you are gently reasonable with others.  Christians are able to be patient with all men in spite of whatever persecution we may receive, because we have a heavenly citizenship.  We have a heavenly possession that is working itself out in this life now.

Here are two more passages where this word is used:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” – James 3:17-18

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” – Titus 3:1-2

I’m sure you can see how applicable this word is for our day.  Even before the craziness of information overload that has come with the Coronavirus, public discourse in our country and much of the world has not been known for being gently reasonable.  Christians are the only ones who have access to this kind of power under control.  We are able to remain calm in the midst of life-altering pandemics, because our life is hidden with God in heaven.  We have a reason for the hope that we have. 

And so, we patiently seek the truth while being bombarded with false information, political maneuvering, fearful over-reaction, arrogant dismissiveness, and self-righteous blame-shifting.  Wisdom instead will be justified by its deeds.  As we have the mind of Christ, we must commit ourselves to knowing what is true.  And it should be clear to us that no one but God really knows what’s going on in this world.  In humility we should not be presumptuous and we should reserve judgment before it’s time.  The reasonable person can disagree with a president or a governor, but be thankful that God has placed him in authority over us, joyfully submitting to his requests, praying for him, loving our neighbors, diligently seeking the truth, and prioritizing unity in the body of Christ.  This is not a time to panic and hoard, and it’s also not a time to speculate and condescend.  It’s a time to proclaim the gospel in word and deed.  This is a time to put our hope in our savior, and not in our knowledge or our 3-month stock of supplies. 

Does everyone know us as being reasonable?