Don't Lose Your Edge
I overheard an absolutely hilarious story last week. A man took his 85 year old Father to the doctor for his annual ear exam. For the next few weeks after the examination, he noticed that his father kept telling everyone they encountered “to be dangerous.” He thought nothing of it until they were at a grocery store and they saw a Nun. His father looked at her with a mischievous grin and said “stay dangerous.” The Nun was obviously uncomfortable and the son was deeply embarrassed. On the ride home from the store, he asked his Father why he kept repeating that highly unusual (and in the most recent case) highly inappropriate expression.
His Dad said that he started using the phrase because his physician told him that living by and sharing that axiom would greatly enhance his life. Deeply frustrated, the son called the Doctor and asked him why on earth he would tell his 85 year old Father to say such a thing. The Doctor replied, “Sir, that isn’t what I said. I told your father to “stay curious." He must have misunderstood.” When he confronted his father about the situation, his Father said, “Oh I heard the Doctor.” But I decided that it’s better to be dangerous.
I am not sure that being dangerous is better than being curious. But I do believe that it is at least equally important. To be dangerous means you have the ability to inflict harm—whether that harm be physical, emotional, intellectual, rhetorical, or even political. Jesus once advised his followers to be “as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves.” But I have to frequently remind people that you cannot be harmless until and unless you can be harmful. True strength is capacity under control. True strength says “I can, but I won’t.” This is why Jesus told Pilate “if my Kingdom were of this world then I would fight.” Just because I am not fighting doesn’t mean I can’t.
I think too many people—especially Christians—are anything but dangerous. They are measly mouthed, spineless jellyfish. They are sanctified pushovers. They have neither the conviction, capacity, or courage to stand up or fight for what they believe in. We are living in an era, where as the poet Yeats lamented, the “worst are full of passionate intensity and the best lack all conviction.”
For twenty years, Jack Welch was the Chief Executive Officer of The General Electric corporation. Nicknamed “chain-saw Jack,” Welch was not afraid to fire people, exit markets and eliminate product lines, or challenge complacency. In his book Winning—which encapsulates his leadership philosophy—(and which also happens to be one of my favorite leadership books)—Welch argues that one of the characteristics that you should look for when hiring people is “edge.” He defines “edge” as the courage to make decisions, have an opinion, and stick to your beliefs. In my estimation, that is a perfect definition of what it means to be dangerous.
I am sure my contention to be dangerous may raise a few eyebrows and more than a few doubts. But let me hasten to say that I am not advocating violence or aggression. Neither violence or aggression should be mistaken for or confused with being dangerous nor having edge. A knife can cut you if it isn’t properly handled. But I’ve never known a knife to cut anyone lol. In the same way, a dangerous person who has “edge” never starts a fight. But should they be handled incorrectly, a proportionate response should be expected LOL. When you have edge, your mere presence is provocative.
In the musings of Isaiah, the prophet rhapsodized about a servant who would come to execute God’s will. Isaiah saw that one of the defining attributes of this servant would be his edge. In Isaiah 49:1-3, he included this description in the resume of the coming servant:
Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands, And pay attention, you peoples from far away. The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He has named Me. He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has kept Me hidden; And He has made Me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he has hidden me.”
This servant was Jesus, and include all who believe in Jesus. We are servants of God. And as servants, we cannot lose our edge. We must be as sharp as swords and arrows. God cannot use us to penetrate the darkness if we lack edge. So, today, here’s my question:
Are you a sanctified pushover?