How to be valiant and courageous Part 2: Fighting with yourself
“…you will not think Roman fever very pretty. This is the way people catch it. I wonder,” he added, turning to Giovanelli, “that you, a native Roman, should countenance such a terrible indiscretion.”
“Ah,” said the handsome native, “for myself, I am not afraid.”
“Neither am I—for you! I am speaking for the young lady.”
“Daisy Miller: A Study” by Henry James
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24)
“Ah,” said the handsome native, “for myself, I am not afraid.”
“Neither am I—for you! I am speaking for the young lady.”
“Daisy Miller: A Study” by Henry James
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” (Hebrews 10:24)
The second enemy Valiant-for-Truth fights off is named “Inconsiderate.” Who is this character and why does the Man of God need to fight him?
As the name implies, “Inconsiderate” is simply the kind of person who only thinks of himself and never about how his words and actions affect others. On the flip side, someone who is considerate does not act rashly, but he thinks about what impact his actions and words have on others (if any at all). He does so with the result of putting the feelings of others above his own.
This idea has been greatly distorted in our age. This concept of “consideration” is not some version of “wokeness” where we must ban certain words or ideas that others think to be offensive (like calling a man a “woman” simply because he suffers from the delusion that he thinks he is one). Remember that truth comes before all things—even feelings.
This idea of “consideration” has been called by many names through the ages. Jesus taught His followers to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is being considerate. In the Medieval period this teaching was publicly celebrated and eventually took the form of “chivalry” or “gentility.”
“Gentility,” or the quality of being a “gentleman,” is needed today more than ever. It was once the domain of the upper classes, because it was expected from the leaders of a distinctly Christian society. But being of a certain class/income level is not necessary for such honorable behavior. What is necessary is for men to practice an “aristocracy of the soul,” rather than that of social distinctions. A gentleman is someone who not only possesses a refined taste in what is true, good, and beautiful (allowing him to make clear judgments on those things), but also one who acts in ways that are considerate of others. And don’t think that this is only for weak, namby-pamby, beta-male types. This is a quality identified with kings and warriors, not couch potatoes.
Shakespeare puts this idea into the mouth of Henry V in his famous “St. Crispin’s Day Speech” (Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3). While inspiring his men of all classes to join with him in fighting a battle for which they were vastly outnumbered, King Henry says to those who were willing to make the sacrifice: “This day shall gentle his condition.”
Imagine that: his army, far outnumbered by the French, are about to go into battle. Many of them would lose their lives in a ferocious hand-to-hand fight. Many would survive with life-long scars. So, what does Henry mean by that day “gentling” their condition? It means that by fighting so valiantly for such a noble cause, men of ordinary rank will join the ranks of the “gentility” (like the King himself). It is a matter of honor and courage. Living true to those principles “gentles” his condition. They have freely chosen to fight for something beside themselves, for the cause of king and country.
That is “gentility” in its most extreme moment. That’s what it means to be “considerate.” And while we don’t all face that particular context, we all face face situations where we must act the same towards others. As we interact with others in our day-to-day lives (or in closer relationships) gentility demands of us that we think about others.
That is not always easy. It is not easy especially when we do such things even to our own hurt or our own disadvantage. But that is what our King calls us to, because the life he has given us is not about living to our purposes, but His alone. It is about following in His steps and living a life of sacrifice. He is, after all, the King!
John Bunyan puts “Inconsiderate” in the position of an enemy. We are always resisting our own comfort and pleasure in order to give those things to others. Selfishness is a giant that can destroy the strongest of men. It is a giant that should always be met with sword drawn. Better to kill it in the form of “Inconsiderate” before it morphs into a monster that can cause more damage.
Go to How to be Valiant and Courageous Part 3
Return to Words to Live By
As the name implies, “Inconsiderate” is simply the kind of person who only thinks of himself and never about how his words and actions affect others. On the flip side, someone who is considerate does not act rashly, but he thinks about what impact his actions and words have on others (if any at all). He does so with the result of putting the feelings of others above his own.
This idea has been greatly distorted in our age. This concept of “consideration” is not some version of “wokeness” where we must ban certain words or ideas that others think to be offensive (like calling a man a “woman” simply because he suffers from the delusion that he thinks he is one). Remember that truth comes before all things—even feelings.
This idea of “consideration” has been called by many names through the ages. Jesus taught His followers to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is being considerate. In the Medieval period this teaching was publicly celebrated and eventually took the form of “chivalry” or “gentility.”
“Gentility,” or the quality of being a “gentleman,” is needed today more than ever. It was once the domain of the upper classes, because it was expected from the leaders of a distinctly Christian society. But being of a certain class/income level is not necessary for such honorable behavior. What is necessary is for men to practice an “aristocracy of the soul,” rather than that of social distinctions. A gentleman is someone who not only possesses a refined taste in what is true, good, and beautiful (allowing him to make clear judgments on those things), but also one who acts in ways that are considerate of others. And don’t think that this is only for weak, namby-pamby, beta-male types. This is a quality identified with kings and warriors, not couch potatoes.
Shakespeare puts this idea into the mouth of Henry V in his famous “St. Crispin’s Day Speech” (Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3). While inspiring his men of all classes to join with him in fighting a battle for which they were vastly outnumbered, King Henry says to those who were willing to make the sacrifice: “This day shall gentle his condition.”
Imagine that: his army, far outnumbered by the French, are about to go into battle. Many of them would lose their lives in a ferocious hand-to-hand fight. Many would survive with life-long scars. So, what does Henry mean by that day “gentling” their condition? It means that by fighting so valiantly for such a noble cause, men of ordinary rank will join the ranks of the “gentility” (like the King himself). It is a matter of honor and courage. Living true to those principles “gentles” his condition. They have freely chosen to fight for something beside themselves, for the cause of king and country.
That is “gentility” in its most extreme moment. That’s what it means to be “considerate.” And while we don’t all face that particular context, we all face face situations where we must act the same towards others. As we interact with others in our day-to-day lives (or in closer relationships) gentility demands of us that we think about others.
That is not always easy. It is not easy especially when we do such things even to our own hurt or our own disadvantage. But that is what our King calls us to, because the life he has given us is not about living to our purposes, but His alone. It is about following in His steps and living a life of sacrifice. He is, after all, the King!
John Bunyan puts “Inconsiderate” in the position of an enemy. We are always resisting our own comfort and pleasure in order to give those things to others. Selfishness is a giant that can destroy the strongest of men. It is a giant that should always be met with sword drawn. Better to kill it in the form of “Inconsiderate” before it morphs into a monster that can cause more damage.
Go to How to be Valiant and Courageous Part 3
Return to Words to Live By