Patience… really?!
“I had my patience tested. It was negative” Unknown
“Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.” Guy Kawasaki
“I wish I was as thin as my patience.” Unknown
I am not a patient person… I thought I might be until the shelter-in-place of 2020 disrupted my serene life by telling me all the things I could not do — even if I wanted to! Such is the reality of human nature… that is why I enjoy the cartoon above!
Confession: I think I have learned to wear the facade of patience, but I realize on many occasions, there is little behind the mask. I fear the “gown of patience” is little more than the “emperor’s new clothes” on me.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently… (Romans 8.25)
But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. (1Timothy 1.16)
There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “patience.” One is upomeno which is comprised of two words meaning to “remain under.” The other word is makrothumia which again is made up of two words meaning “long temper.” While they appear, on the surface, to be used interchangeably in the New Testament, they actually have distinct meanings. Upomeno means patience in relation to difficult circumstances, and makrothumia means patience in relation to difficult people. The King James Bible translates the latter by the English phrase, “long-suffering,” which generally means a forbearing, patient spirit before those who do things that irritate, agitate, or generally “bug” us. Paul frequently uses this word in counsel with the leaders and fellowships he corresponded with.
Here is the challenge that confronts me: I can be a patient leader when it comes to endurance and perseverance (upomeno) amidst obstacles and circumstances. Yet, at the same time, I can be a leader completely lacking in patience (makrothumia) with the very people God is calling me to serve. Upomeno will be tested by circumstances; makrothumia will be tested in community.
Makrothumia patience is not the passive tolerance of another’s irritating behaviors or opinions. It is not the quiet endurance of irregular personalities, and neither should it be confused with the capacity to remain silent in the presence of people whose words and ways you may find outrageous. Do not confuse patience for self-discipline — the latter does not define the former.
A quick reading of the New Testament passages containing this word (see below) indicates that patience involves intentional personal engagement that endures resistance, indifference, or offense in the hope of engaging lives with Jesus. In this light, patience is the tangible expression of the grace of Christ meeting us where we are and abiding with us despite who we are so that we may grow in the likeness of Him.
This has two immediate implications for me:
We can only bring the Kingdom when we welcome the Spirit-filled endowment for patience. Impatient grace is an oxymoron — a contradiction in terms. Hostility, judgmentalism, and intolerance will sabotage God’s gracious patience (see Romans 2.3-4) and, therefore, undermine our mission and our missional effectiveness. It will be the undeserved and unconditional constancy and consistency of God’s grace expressed through intentionally patient engagement that will persuade lives to surrender to Jesus.
A united covenant community can only be secured with patience. Community is messy. Whether that community be a small group, a local congregation, an online congregation, a Western District, or a Foursquare denomination. Communities without patience suffer anxiety because there is no confidence that we are in this together for the long haul. Fragile is the community that fears it is one disagreement away from disintegration. It is makrothumia, not agreement, that secures the covenant unity that I believe God longs for on our behalf. It relentlessly persists despite disagreement, it will not retreat in the wake of gossip or backbiting, nor will it give up contending for the unity we are commanded to embrace.
Without patience, our unity will be unobtainable and our mission will be unfruitful.
This summer, Carol and I will celebrate 45 years of marriage. Our marriage has not been secured by our mutual agreements, the expressions of kindness, or our fidelity. Ultimately, it has been secured by makrothumia patience — this patience assures each other that we will be committed to one another despite our disagreements, unkind words, or seasons of “distance.” We will persist and cover one another with patience until that day when Christ is fully formed in both of us.
Western District, will you join me in praying for patience to multiply among us?
Scriptures with makrothumia - what do you learn when you read these verses?
Rom. 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Rom. 9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction,
2Cor. 6:6 in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
Gal. 5:22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Col. 1:11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully
Col. 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
1Tim. 1:16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.
2Tim. 3:10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
2Tim. 4:2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.
Heb. 6:12 so that you may not become sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
James 5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
1Pet. 3:20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water.
2Pet. 3:15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
