John Dickson, in his new book Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership, defines humility like this:
Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself.
Or it is a “willingness to hold power in service of others.”
How would you define humility? Where do you find yourself in need of it most?
For Dickson, a pastor and professor in Australia, humility involves dignity (one’s status), a willingness/choice, and it is social (not self-deprecation, etc, which is modesty), that is, is redirects power for others.
John applies this to leadership four tools: ability, authority, persuasion and example.
This book is loaded with illustrations, connected both to biblical and ancient classical history, and yet keeps the line straight enough not to lose us in historical issues that no longer matter. But this is not your typical pragmatic practical book; it’s history put to good use. For instance, humility in the biblical sense was set over against philotimia — the love of honor.
Great example: Matt 23. Jesus criticized the leaders for loving seats of honor. (That’s philotimia.) Humility is the opposite: it means not to ask for your title to be used in order to help others. The cruciform life of Jesus and his framing of ethics in a cruciform manner shifted the ancient culture from prizing philotimia to prizing humility. Jesus created what John calls a humility revolution.
And it works, too! Humility generates abilities; humble character is more persuasive; humility inspires others; humility is better than tolerance and creates harmony between people; and you can’t write a book about humility without having some “steps” to get it:
1. We are shaped by what we love.
2. Reflect on the lives of humble.
3. Conduct thought experiments to enhance humility.
4. Act humbly.
5. Invite criticism.
6. Forget about being humble.
Interesting coming from an Australian. I worked in a church there as an intern and found that their understanding of humility was a fresh perspective from my own (USA). They, as a society, cheer for the lowly. American’s celebrate the Independence Day, where we gained our independence in a successful engagement with the world’s superpower. Australian’s celebrate Anzac Day, commemorating a failed military campaign in Turkey where they suffered heavy losses, but was their first major military offensive sealing their independence from England.
Humility for the Australian means being careful to not place yourself above others. It is so ingrained into their culture that to do anything to place yourself above the average bloke is to make yourself open to ridicule. If a poppy grows too tall it is to be cut down. The difficulty I think Australian Christians face is to remain humble, without falling into apathy. For us in the US our difficulty is to seek humility in a culture that prides itself on being first.
Scot,
Long time reader, occasional commenter.
I can see you’re well acquainted with John Dickson- being an Aussie and having read and viewed much of this guy’s work, I’m absolutely thrilled to see you featuring his work on this blog. I hope his profile continues to grow over in the US; that could only be a good thing given the valuable contributions he’s made on a range of topics throughout his body of work.
Scot,
Thanks so much. Kind of you to bother to read it, let alone to summarise.
Blessings,
John
John your comment reminds of the famous professor-y query: “Nice of you to review it, did you read it?”
This is a refreshing post on an important subject. I like the “steps” at the end of your review.
(I also like what you said about this not being another pragmatic practical book but history being put to good use. That alone is refreshing.)
JoeyS @ #1 – Your telling of Australian culture makes me want to go there! Thanks for sharing this…
I’m not sure, though, that apathy is the unintended outcome of humility, since–for all our American pride–we in the U.S. seem to struggle quite a bit with apathy. Concerning others, at least. Do you mean apathy in the individual sense, of not caring to better oneself?
Jesus is the most persuasive example of humility that I take as my prime role model. He forfeited the place of honor in order to serve (and lead) those lower than Himself. Whereas authoritarian leadership tends to repulse me, Jesus is an inviting Shepherd to follow…gentle and humble of heart. This is a Person from whom I can learn.
It is hard to forget about being humble, since pride so easily creeps in, and hopefully, the subsequent conviction of the need for humility!
JoeyS
I went to Australia once….for a competition. How do they deal with that?
Ok, I’ve another book I’m going to have to read!
This sounds excellent and refreshing.
I find it interesting that Christianity that emphasizes humility and giving up places of honor to serve others have created a clergy class (and I was part of that class) that seems to crave titles such as Senior Minister, Pastor, Doctor, etc. My own tradition has its particular ways of doing the same thing.
I know this is very generic and not meant to be a criticism of all who wear these titles–but sometimes I wonder why we even use them to begin with. What is the purpose or reason? To draw a distinction? As a job description? Even as a job description, is it necessary?
Ok, that was a diversion and I need to get off the box!
Thanks for the review–but I don’t think I’ll thank you too much for giving me another reason to buy something else!
Does the book talk about how one may empower the person with low self-worth? Those who don’t have high status or power in the beginning to let use for others?
Darryl, your point is an important one. What does humility say about those who grasp for power or who want status by way of title?
Favorite definition of humility, from Leadership Catalyst (TrueFaced, Bo’s Cafe):
“Trusting God and others with myself”.
I.e. trusting God and others to defend me, love me, protect me, care for me – so I don’t have to push myself forward, advance myself, defend myself, etc.
I would define humility as acknowledging reality, which includes a constant battle against the fictions we create in our own minds. this gives us the effect of realizing: that we are just one human being among many, that we are often the products of vaious social factors (some better and some worse than our fellow human beings), that all people are different and yet have the same lot in life, that there is a Supreme Being that governs everyone alike. I guess this means that my definition of humility involves a state of the mind and not action as, I am guessing, Dickson defines humility.
#9 from a Christian perspective, reality also means we are children of God who are known and loved, with a purpose and intrinsic value just for simply existing. all other human beings are also valuable, loved and have a purpose. this realization, i think, is what produces “acts” of humility (as opposed to philosophies like Neitzche’s). i would also say that those within the bible acted in humility because they were realistic.
Here are a few aspects of humility that seem to be either misunderstood or neglected:
Micah 6:8 and I Pet. 5:6: Humility can be objectively known otherwise commands would be cruel.
Phil. 2:8: Humility seems to be almost synonymous with obedience to God.
Bottom line is that we can know what humility entails. It is not the elusive “once you think you have it, it is gone” reality that is commonly portrayed.
Scot:
Here is my simple definition:
Humility is knowing who I am in the sight of God.
Dave
Scot,
Remember I said that your work on gospel-structure was featured in the course I was studying? John’s the one taking the course!
So glad you found this helpful.
And, Joey, good thoughts; yes, we have our cultural idiosyncrasies. But there’s more nuance to the infamous ‘tall poppy syndrome’ than that. For example, Sydney is more characterised by people aspiring to climb the ladder of ambition than it is by the traditional “Aussie”. With increasing globalisation, that culture has been permeated by other cultures. With it, I think, at least, a dilution of the tall poppy syndrome has gradually taken place; people still pay lip service to it (we’re kind of proud of it?) but it’s definitely not as strong.
In any case, the fact that John’s Australian may colour a number of things, but it doesn’t really affect his work as an historian.
Grace and peace.
Thanks for this and everyone who responded. My experience is that humility is, at best, in the eye of the beholder. I was accused of being unhumble at lunch today because I questioned someone. This attitude, humility, is, in my expereince, very difficult to be objective about.
This topic is an important one in the church today…
I think humility must entail some sort of self-awareness of who we rightly are and the gifts we have. Then we can act accordingly (working within our gifts rather than for status or lowliness).
I have found prideful people are often not self-aware. They don’t know who they are and so cannot help others be themselves either in God’s design.
I find humility (from the root “humus” = “earth”) is necessary to be “human” (same root). For in our humility we find our humanity undisguised.
DRT #16:
Nothing very subjective about humility in Phil. 2:8 and this is our model.
Dave Moore#18, while I agree with you, I don’t think the theory actually gets us anywhere in real life. The question is, obedient to what? The conversation I had on Friday was with a YEC that accused me of arrogance for questioning the YEC view. It was not a mild accusation either, he was repulsed by my arrogance. What if humility is arrogance? Look out for the Thought Police!
DRT #19,
Phil. 2:1-11 as a whole is key for understanding to be humble. First, it’s considering others better than yourself. Second, Phil 2:8 (and vv. 6 and 7) is (are) practical, it’s about self-giving and not taking advantage of the money/status/etc. that we have. It’s about using what we have not for our own good but for the good of others even when the cost is everything.