For those who are unclear on the matter, the term “passive aggressive” relates to statements or actions which seem calm, detached, or even well-intended on their surface, and yet which have an underlying manipulative motive &/or aggressive intent. Some examples of this dysfunctional trait are found in expressions of melodramatic pettiness, pity-ploys, insincere compliments, blame-shifting, behavior shaming, guilt tripping, embittered complaining, paranoia, “white lie” dishonesty, griping gossip, caustic criticism, &/or a rationalized lack of remorse or empathy. Passive aggressive individuals often feel that they are being treated unfairly, and almost always feel entitled to more respect or honor than they currently receive. Reading the biblical letters of Paul with these definitions in mind, it is quite easy to see that Paul regularly & flagrantly exhibits a classic passive aggressive personality¹. He regularly attempts to summon pity from his readers (see 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 2:1-9, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, & Colossians 1:24), he frequently disguises his true motives behind false denials (see 1 Thessalonians 2:8 & 2 Corinthians 7:2-4), and he openly admits to his attempts to “make my own people jealous, and thereby save some of them” (see Romans 11:14). He claims to not be shaming his followers while obviously shaming them (see 1 Thessalonians 2:9-11, Galatians 1:6-9, Galatians 3:1-3, Galatians 4:8-11, 1 Corinthians 4:14, & 2 Corinthians 11:7-11), he sets himself up as the only acceptable arbiter of truth (see 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Galatians 1:11-12, 1 Corinthians 14:37-38, & Romans 15:15-19), he makes “velvet threats” related to the potential future misdeeds of his readers (see 2 Corinthians 12:19-21), he lauds the past behaviors of one congregation in order to manipulate another into supplying him with similar gifts or benefits (see 2 Corinthians 8:2-24 & 2 Corinthians 9:5), and he openly denigrates his opponents – and thereby passively threatens his readers with similar denigration should they be similarly disobedient (see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, Galatians 2:11-14, Romans 1:20-22, Romans 10:2-3, & Romans 16:17-20) …

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is regularly seen being unconditionally kind to others while being blatantly direct with them at the same time. Indeed, it is no accident that he openly champions flagrantly honest speech (“Let your ‘yes’ mean Yes and your ‘no’ mean No” ~ Matthew 5:37) and that he openly lauds & honors “children” (see Matthew 18:3-6 & Matthew 19:13-14, where the Greek word paidia – Strong’s #3813 – actually means “toddlers” or “very young children”); in the case at hand those who are fully incapable of engaging in passive-aggressive manipulations of any kind. Where Paul frequently threatens and inspires fear in others as a manipulative tool, Jesus repeatedly encourages his followers to “Be not afraid” (see Matthew 10:26-31, Matthew 14:27, Matthew 17:7, Matthew 28:5-10, Mark 5:36, Mark 6:50, Luke 5:10, Luke 8:50, Luke 12:4-11, Luke 12:32, John 6:20, along with John 14:27‘s “My peace I give to you” ). Where Paul threatens God’s wrath and punishment, Jesus speaks of God’s unconditional Love (see Matthew 5:44-48, Luke 6:36, Luke 15:11-32, John 3:16-17, John 15:9-17, along with 1 John 4:7-18 and Luke 12:32‘s “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”). Where Paul‘s ministry is clearly designed to establish his theology and ultimately his church, Jesus‘ teachings are all about bringing others Joy and lessening their suffering (see Matthew 5:3-11, Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 10:20, Luke 15:1-7, Luke 17:20-21, & John 16:20-22 – as well as Luke 7:13‘s “Do not weep”, John 15:11‘s “I have said these things to you so that my Joy might be in you” and John 17:13‘s “I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves”). Where Paul is often cold-hearted and lacking in empathy, Jesus often shows great compassion for others’ confusion and suffering (see Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 20:34, Mark 1:40-42, Mark 6:34, Mark 8:2-3, Luke 7:13 & Luke 19:41-42 et al). Where Paul tempts his adherents to worry about imminent danger or future discomfort, Jesus encourages his followers to have faith and focus only on the present moment (see Matthew 6:25-34, Mark 4:39-40, Luke 12:22-26, along with John 16:33‘s “I have said these things to you so that in me you might find peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; for my way has conquered the world”).

 

And finally, where Paul is frequently stern and even harsh with his readers, Jesus is almost always (except when exposing the hypocrisies of the Pharisees) seen being gentle and kind. Indeed, aside from the many times we see Jesus feeding the hungry or healing the ill or injured, we see him being gentle and kind without condition to all those who come to him. He was kind to lepers (see Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-42, Luke 5:12-13, & Luke 17:12-19) even though the Judaic Law of the day forbid the same (see Leviticus 13:44-45 & Numbers 5:1-4). He was kind a Roman centurion even though Roman legions were militarily occupying his homeland at the time (see Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-9). He was kind to an adulteress in John 8:1-11, and he was kind to tax collectors and prostitutes in Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:29-31, & Luke 19:1-9. He was kind to all the ill & injured people who came to him in Simon’s home (see Mark 1:29-34 & Luke 4:38-40), and he was kind to an “unclean woman” who touched him (and thereby made him “unclean” as well – see Leviticus 15:25-27) without his permission (see Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, & Luke 8:43-48). He was kind to all the innocent animals who were being brutally butchered in the Temple (see Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, Luke 19:45, & John 2:14-16 – also Matthew 9:13‘s “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”), and he was kind to the woman from Canaan in Matthew 15:22-28 (even though such friendliness was forbidden at the time by Jewish Law – see Deuteronomy 20:17). He was kind to very young children (see Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, & Luke 18:15-17) and he was kind to “royal officials” (see John 4:46-53). Despite the centuries-old enmity that still existed between Jews & Samaritans at the time (see 2 Kings 17:29-41, Matthew 10:5, & John 4:9), Jesus was openly kind to a Samaritan woman (see John 4:5-26), openly kind to Samaritans in general (see John 4:39-40), and even vehemently kind to a village of Samaritans who had rudely rejected him and his disciples (see Luke 9:52-56). He was kind to the “wasteful woman” who anointed him with expensive oil in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, & Luke 7:37-50 (see also John 12:2-8, which pretty clearly references another anointing entirely) and he was also kind to Jairus, the leader of a local synagogue, in Mark 5:21-24 & Luke 8:41-55 (and also Nicodemus in John 3:1-21). He was repeatedly kind to his disciples (who were for the most part completely clueless for the entirety of his ministry, and who often frustrated him immensely throughout the same – see John 13:3-8; also John 20:20-23 et al) and he was even kind to Judas during his betrayal (see Matthew 26:20-25 & Matthew 26:49-50). Most telling of all, Jesus was kind during his darkest hour – even towards his crucifiers during his crucifixion (see “Father, forgive them – they know not what they do” in Luke 23:34).

 

 

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Filed under: Jesus & the Cult of Paul by Scaughdt