In my continued effort to reduce needless suffering I’ll condescend to suggest that you cease being offended by my condescension. Your agitation is unwarranted. Gratitude is a more appropriate response than indignation.

The dictionary definition of “condescension” is ‘voluntary descent from one’s rank or dignity in relations with an inferior.’ When I condescend to you I am stepping out of my position so we can interact with each other. I’m coming down to your level in order to educate you.

“John, you jerk! You’re not better than me! I don’t need you to EDUCATE ME!!!”

Thank you! I appreciate your condescending to educate me that you don’t need my condescension. The only way I can have any knowledge of your superiority is for you to come down to my level and teach me. I’m someone who thinks I can learn from anyone and you have taught me that not everyone thinks this way.

Contempt and conceit are not condescension. It’s possible to be condescending without arrogance. A good teacher condescends to students without a hint of scorn or resentment. Wise students appreciate the humility displayed when a teacher stoops to engage them.

The most condescending person who ever walked the Earth is Jesus Christ. He is responsible for creating the Universe but I wouldn’t know anything about Him if He had stayed in His unreachable position in Heaven. Thankfully, He chose to obey His Father and come down to where I am in order to interact with me.

Jesus showed me that condescension done properly is compassion.

I’m not even close to Jesus’ level of condescension. And even though you may be more condescending than me, you aren’t much like Christ either. The good news for both of us is that God is gracious and merciful.

(1 John 4:9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.