Bend the Knee

from August 24, 2017

Living overseas offers a perspective you cannot access when you are home. There are aspects of scripture that Americans just do not understand or cannot really grasp. Not because we are arrogant, but because we are ignorant. Concepts like having a King. We don't have one, never had one, don't what its like and have nothing to compare it too. There is one I have been thinking about for awhile and I want to share with you.

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'" Romans 14:11

As Americans, we do not understand the concept of what it means or what it costs to bend a knee. For me, I was raised in Catholic church where we were up and down on our knees several times every Sunday. It became ritual. As a nation, we bend our knee willingly and thoughtlessly and it has nothing to do with religion. Even atheists will bend a knee to ask a woman to marry them. If you need to get something from under the kitchen sink, you may kneel to reach it.

Originally to “bend a knee” was an act of submission to someone you believe or accept is superior to you. It was recognition of someone’s authority to you. It was also a demonstration of fealty. Which was to show your utmost loyalty to your dying breath to an authority over you. This may have been done freely, or against your will. The equivalent in the animal kingdom would be to roll onto your back exposing your belly and peeing before an alpha. Bending the knee was not taken lightly. If you weren’t in the stated situations, you would never bend a knee for any reason. If you wanted to change a tire, look under your bed or pick up your child, you squatted. All of this, I pretty much knew, but I did not care. This brings me to Mongolia, where I discovered the other half of this act, where everything clicked and it now makes sense.

To Mongolians, the ground, be it a marble floor, a grassy park or hard packed dirt, is only to be touched by the soles of your feet. You do not sit on the ground, lay on the ground, or even set your bag on the ground. The ground is for animals. They eat off the ground, lay in its filth and relieve themselves on it. It is where animals live and is beneath humans. In Mongolian wrestling, you lose, if any part of your body other than the bottom of your feet touches the ground. If you are falling and try to catch yourself with your hand, you lose. If you bend your knee to get under your opponent to throw them over your shoulder, you lose. Even back in the day, a warrior would try not allow an enemies blood to spill on the ground.

Growing up, I was a dirty kid. I would swim in ponds, sleep on grassy hills, or wrestle on the ground. My knees were always dirty and jeans had holes. I’ve spilled a ton of my own blood on the ground, I have eaten food off the ground and I didn’t care well into my adulthood. I was not going to be some sissy that pranced around a puddle, I was going to trudge right through it. If my shoes get wet or dirty, so be it. My shoes serve me, not the other way around. There is nothing wrong with that way of life, but because of it, I miss the full meaning of verses like Romans 14:11.

Every knee will bow. Sure, of course, because its God. Not so fast my friend. I am now living in a country of over three million people who would never bend a knee to anyone or anything because they submit to no one and because the ground is disgusting. I do believe every knee will bend, but it will not cost me, like it would cost a Mongolian. For a Mongolian to consider bending their knee until it touches the ground and to be willing to do it would take an act of God.

I think in that is the importance of that verse. EVERY knee will bow. It will not forcibly or against anyone’s will, but the act of God is being in the presence of an awesome, holy God. It will become obvious to a Mongolian mind, that He is the Supreme Being, creator of all, infinite and unfathomable, righteous and magnificent. A Mongolian mind will easy accept and submit, willingly bend a knee in obedience and fear. They will not be able to stand defiantly, thumbing their nose, and crossing their arms in front of His glory. They will recognize that this is God! Even to my mind, where I can comfortably say I would gladly bend my knee to my God, I believe I would experience a similar train of thought as a Mongolian. Even a loving and obedient mind will tremble in fear at the glorious display of His greatness and drop to their knees.

I have seen Mongolians on the ground, but those were people that were most likely homeless, jobless, and intoxicated. I have seen Mongolians drunk and passed out, but sitting on a step leaning against a wall. Those ones, I think, haven’t quite given up. They still have some dignity. I think about what it would take though, for them to allow themselves to lay on the ground, knowing how they feel about the ground. The despair, the low level of self-esteem, the utter loss of love in their life must be devastating and crushing to their soul. Those ones have given up hope and are probably not long for this world.

We, as Americans, plead fealty to nothing. We used to pledge allegiance to the flag, but that is one its way out the door. We used to stand and place our hand over our heart during the singing of the national anthem, but that is losing traction as well. We don't hold our President in the same regard as England holds its Queen. Even Muslims will not place the Quran on the ground but keep it a place of importance. I will toss my Bible onto my bed and if it bounces onto the floor, I will get it later. I am not saying we should revere these things, for we are to have no idols before God. We are losing what it means to revere, respect and love something. Eventually, if not already, that is how we will treat God.