As
Independence Day approaches, and as electioneering gets as intense as this summer
heat wave, I’m hoping against hope for an outbreak of civility. Civility is a
public virtue which is simple to praise and complicated to practice. It’s easy to dream about and hard to make a
reality in the give-and-take of everyday life.
Independence Day approaches, and as electioneering gets as intense as this summer
heat wave, I’m hoping against hope for an outbreak of civility. Civility is a
public virtue which is simple to praise and complicated to practice. It’s easy to dream about and hard to make a
reality in the give-and-take of everyday life.
I
believe that genuine civility has its roots in the character of God. As a Christian, I believe that God “rules the
world with truth and grace” (a phrase from “Joy to the World”). We see God’s way of ruling most clearly in the
servanthood of Jesus. God’s power is
most definitively displayed in the weakness and vulnerability of Jesus’ cross.
believe that genuine civility has its roots in the character of God. As a Christian, I believe that God “rules the
world with truth and grace” (a phrase from “Joy to the World”). We see God’s way of ruling most clearly in the
servanthood of Jesus. God’s power is
most definitively displayed in the weakness and vulnerability of Jesus’ cross.
Civility
includes using our powers of speech to persuade and not to coerce; making our
case but not manipulating; debating those with whom we disagree, but not
demeaning them; and being clear and passionate about our convictions, while listening
receptively to the passions and convictions of others. When we do these things, we reflect, in
small, imperfect, but important ways, the God who uses power to serve and not to
dominate, who rules the world by love and not by force, and who loves enemies
enough to die for them.
includes using our powers of speech to persuade and not to coerce; making our
case but not manipulating; debating those with whom we disagree, but not
demeaning them; and being clear and passionate about our convictions, while listening
receptively to the passions and convictions of others. When we do these things, we reflect, in
small, imperfect, but important ways, the God who uses power to serve and not to
dominate, who rules the world by love and not by force, and who loves enemies
enough to die for them.
Civility is also a way of bearing witness to the
God-given dignity of all human beings.
Even people whom we do not particularly like and with whom we have
significant disagreements are made in the image of God. Richard Mouw has suggested that, when we are
finding it hard to think well of someone, we remember:
God-given dignity of all human beings.
Even people whom we do not particularly like and with whom we have
significant disagreements are made in the image of God. Richard Mouw has suggested that, when we are
finding it hard to think well of someone, we remember:
Every
human being is a center of value. The
value may not always be obvious to us.
This is why we have to go out of our to reflect on the value of specific human
beings. We Christians can do this by
reminding ourselves that the person in question is created by God. If an artist friend produces a work of art
that I don’t particularly like, I can still treat that artifact with reverence
if I remind myself of the value it has for the person who made it. The more I respect the artist, the more I
will go out of my way to revere her work.
human being is a center of value. The
value may not always be obvious to us.
This is why we have to go out of our to reflect on the value of specific human
beings. We Christians can do this by
reminding ourselves that the person in question is created by God. If an artist friend produces a work of art
that I don’t particularly like, I can still treat that artifact with reverence
if I remind myself of the value it has for the person who made it. The more I respect the artist, the more I
will go out of my way to revere her work.
Every
human being is a work of divine art. God
has crafted each of us; we are all “special creations. Even when we have rebelled against God and
distorted his handiwork in our lives, he continues to love us–much as an
artist loves something she has worked on lovingly, even when it has been
severely damaged. I can learn a lot
about how to treat an unlikable person with reverence if I keep reminding
myself of the value the person has in the eyes of God (from
his book, Uncommon Decency)
human being is a work of divine art. God
has crafted each of us; we are all “special creations. Even when we have rebelled against God and
distorted his handiwork in our lives, he continues to love us–much as an
artist loves something she has worked on lovingly, even when it has been
severely damaged. I can learn a lot
about how to treat an unlikable person with reverence if I keep reminding
myself of the value the person has in the eyes of God (from
his book, Uncommon Decency)
People who do not share our views in whatever
arena—family, friendship, faith, economics, or politics—are people whom God
loves. We can oppose their positions
vigorously and disagree with them strenuously, while at the same time treating
them with respect and dignity. It’s
possible to combine strong opinions and love.
When we engage in that kind of civility we bear witness to the fact that
all human beings are valuable because all are created in God’s image. And, we
make our world a better, more peaceful place.
arena—family, friendship, faith, economics, or politics—are people whom God
loves. We can oppose their positions
vigorously and disagree with them strenuously, while at the same time treating
them with respect and dignity. It’s
possible to combine strong opinions and love.
When we engage in that kind of civility we bear witness to the fact that
all human beings are valuable because all are created in God’s image. And, we
make our world a better, more peaceful place.
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