Jettison your Jerk-Ness

“Jerk-an insensitive, selfish, ignorant, cocky person who is inconsiderate and does stupid things“[urbandictionary.com]

Looking back over the past decades of my life, I have become more aware of how certain past behaviors which litter the roadway of my journey, especially as a younger husband, might well qualify me to be awarded a ‘jerk’ badge, at least according to one or more of the components of the above definition.

As a Christ follower, or at least a ‘wanna be’, my ‘jerk’ behaviors may qualify among those sins that so ‘easily entangles us’ [Heb 12:1]. As broad as is the above definition, perhaps it is fairly accurate to say that each of us sometimes behaves like a jerk. Surely at times, each of us is ‘insensitive, selfish, ignorant, cocky, inconsiderate of others, and does stupid things’. But acting like a jerk at times, and actually remaining one are, I suggest, very different. Being insensitive, selfish, and inconsiderate, to name only three components of the definition, would most assuredly describe the whole human race, and we, each being members of that race, are therefore afflicted with the fatal flaw of ‘jerk-ness’ in our character. Thankfully, Jesus died for jerks. Perhaps you are more comfortable admitting yourself to be ‘merely’ a sinner rather than a jerk- after all most people don’t want to earn the designation ‘he’s a jerk’. But based at least on the above definition [which would also qualify us as ‘sinners’] recognizing our ‘jerk-ness’ can be a very helpful beginning in enabling us to begin or renew our efforts to jettison jerk behaviors. Maybe we need a new term to describe ourselves besides or in addition to ‘sinners’-maybe the seriousness of that condition has lost some of its startle to our mind and heart. The term ‘jerk’ might do the job.

I also suggest that us men may be at greater risk to ‘jerk-ness’ than are women. I offer no objective evidence to support my assertion-just the common observation of the cockiness of males, our pathetic machismo, our ‘look-at-me, notice me!’, our sometimes crude, rude, insensitiveness, etc. I am not suggesting that women are free of this flaw-only that perhaps men ‘lead the way’.

Astonishing isn’t it, that Jesus died for jerks?! And I, being one, can be-have been, cleansed by His blood and made, and-in-the-process-of-being-made new [II Cor 5:17], into His image, the only jerk-free Man to ever walk on this planet.

But jerk-like behaviors can persist in us, sometimes knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly, and in the latter case, will likely perpetually persist unless someone-a spouse, a friend, a mature adult child of ours, a boss, or the Spirit of God Himself makes us aware of such behaviors. Our cocky ignorance makes us resistant to acknowledging our jerk behaviors. Humility, awareness, a repentant spirit within us, a reliance on the Holy Spirit, together with a commitment to jettison jerk behaviors is essential for any serious and significant progress to be made.

If our culture says: ‘following Jesus is a stupid thing to do, and only jerks would do so’, then I can most happily embrace that definition of jerk, and gratefully wear that badge. But the other definitional components-i.e. insensitive, selfish, inconsiderate, cocky, etc., are traits that are in sharp contrast and conflict with the humble, caring servant heart of the Lord Jesus, the ‘King who came down’, as displayed via a multitude of examples in the gospels and as described by Paul in Philippians 2:6-8: “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.“

Another sobering example of jerk-free character is found in Paul’s famous love chapter, I Cor 13:4-8.

‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand is own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.‘ [NLT]. That certainly sounds like the description of a ‘non-jerk’.

Are you ‘merely’ acting like a jerk from time to time, or has your character been ‘marinated’ in certain components of ‘jerk-ness’ which have become so persistent that awarding you a ‘jerk badge’ would be justified? As you examine your life, can you admit to yourself [and God] that there are frequent times when you are insensitive or inconsiderate of others, or thoughtless of them. Do you make more work for your spouse or co-workers, or parents than is really necessary? Are you a burden lifter or burden maker for others? Do you live a self-focused, self-absorbed life, one in which life is ‘all about you’? Are you assuming that you are ‘jerk-free’ when in fact, you actually reek with less-than-subtle forms of ‘jerk-ness? Are you ready to take action, empowered by the Spirit, to jettison your jerk-ness?

CJS