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Coping with Life 26 – Incivility
Coping with Life 26 – Incivility
Mike Willis
Incivility is a general term for social behavior lacking in civility or good manners, on a scale from rudeness or lack of respect for elders, to vandalism and hooliganism, through public drunkenness and threatening behavior (Wikipedia).
Twenty-first century political discourse has almost completely discarded civility. The tendency is to brand one’s opponent by a demeaning nickname: “Little Marco,” “Pocahontanas,” “Sleepy Joe Biden,” and “Crazy Hillary.” The tendency to paint one’s opponent as “racist,” “idiot,” “wacko,” “blowhard,” “extremist,” “right-wing,” etc. is no better. Neither addresses the political issues dividing our nation, but both stir up anger and provoke similar replies from their opponents.
Here are some Bible principles of civility:
(1) SPEAK THE TRUTH. “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25).
(2) CONTROL YOUR ANGER. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1).
(3) ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND NOT THE PERSON. “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25).
(4) BE POLITE. Show others the courtesy you wish they would show to you. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
(5) THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18). Will your reaction promote healing or further division?
It is not unusual to hear/see a newscast relating that an argument between two people/two groups/two nations has escalated to the point that shots are fired and men lie dead on the streets. The one who is a disciple of Christ is instructed to follow these principles: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32).
Do you think this has any relevance for politics? Facebook posts? Twitter? Sometimes the best answer is to be silent!
