Christian Civility » The Book

It’s Just a Question

Mitch — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:21:41 +0000

Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do I matter at all to you? Do you know what I think? Do you know how I feel? I know that these are tough questions and that they are hard to listen to. They are embarrassing questions. I know that you want to turn away, hurry off or pretend that you did not hear.

Hurry away – that’s what the priest and Levite did when they encountered the man robed, beaten and left alongside the Jericho road. That’s the one Jesus talked about in the Gospel of Luke after being asked, “Who is my neighbor.” A stranger, the third man to come along, heard the injured man. He stopped, took care of his wounds as best he could and then took the injured man to where he could receive the care he needed. The Good Samaritan did the unthinkable. He aided a despised other. The Samaritans and Jews hated each other in those days. The Jews of Jesus’ day were astounded by this parable.

The priest and the Levite were excused because to touch a dead body would defile them although there were circumstances that would permit them to do so. That’s what we think today. If we interact with unacceptable people, they will rub off on us. We will be defiled. In fact I was once told by a former missionary to the Philippines, “My husband will not eat with you because you eat with black people.”

Our society is so busy, so desensitized, so fragmented that we do not see or hear one another. We pass each other. We might even speak or wave but we do not see. That is all anyone really wants: is to be noticed, to be heard, to be acknowledged, to be valued.

Did you speak to a stranger today? Did you offer a word of encouragement to anyone? Did you walk by or just step over the wounded person? Did you bind up or put ointment on any wounded hurts today? It’s just a question.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Pastor Greg Moore Reviews Christian Civility

Mitch — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:02:54 +0000

16 Jul

from Pastor Greg Moore, Director of Christian Education St. Peter Lutheran Church

An Encouraging Read.

Every once in a while my reading includes a book that touches me, moves me, so that I want to share it with you. Such a book is “Christian Civility In An Uncivil World”.

One way to think about Christian education is that it is about two primary goals. One goal is to teach or share the Word of God, especially the Good News of Jesus Christ, in order to create a faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The other goal is to nurture and grow / mature the Christian faith in a believer by the Holy Spirit.

This second goal of Christian education, is what Jesus was speaking about when he said as recorded in John 14:26, “ (the Holy Spirit) will teach you all things … “. Another way to express this second goal would be to say Christian education leads us, teaches us, what it means to be a believer in Jesus Christ in the setting we live in, how to live our Christian faith in our culture.

This second goal of Christian education is addressed in the book “Christian Civility In An Uncivil World”. I picked up this book edited by Mitch Carnell, with articles by numerous Christians, from our Lutheran Seminary library in Columbia. I believe that you can ask for a library card and take the books out also. Originally I saw this book highlighted in the library and picked it up due to what I was hearing and seeing on the television news, in terms of politics. There was much name calling, I thought some telling of untruths, distortions, by politicians of other politicians, of politicians by news commentators. This did not seem like civil behavior, like honoring behavior. I believed that the Word of God teaches us as much as possible to honor all people. I wanted to learn if these articles would shed any light on, any direction by the Spirit, about how to live our faith in our culture of political competition by honoring all people. It did do this but it did much more.

The articles highlight the importance of being civil to, honoring, fellow Christians, especially when we are different, disagree, even strongly. This is not an easy read, but it is an important read, and an encouraging read. I was again encouraged to believe and hope for Christian civility toward, honoring of, all people during political campaigns, and fellow Christians at all times, even in times of disagreement, even conflict.

One of the most memorable statements in the book is about a quote from Dr. Martin Marty, a Lutheran Pastor and professor at University of Chicago. It dealt with civility and convictions about issues. He noted that in the Christian church, we often have people who have a strong conviction about something but aren’t very civil to others who disagree or don’t understand. On the other hand we also have people who are very civil toward others but who don’t have strong convictions about anything. What we need Dr. Marty said, and can have, are people with convictions who are also civil.

I liked this book of articles partly because it gives practical suggestions that can be learned and put into action. I liked it because it does not suggest that we be marshmallows and allow ourselves to be walked on by others with a different opinion, nor that we do it to others. Without giving too much information about the book, let me say that it shows where civility is strongly encouraged in the Old Testament and the New Testament. With regards to our responsibility to fellow Christians, it shows that our primary task is to love them, to practice Christian friendship, no matter the situation or disagreement. Obviously this is a very challenging task at times.

This is a relatively short book for a summer read or at any time of the year, and I encourage it because it is an encouraging read.

Knight Reviews Christian Civility Christian Civility in an Uncivil World is good for clergy...
Why Did You Write Christian Civility? Smythe&Helwys, the publisher of Christian Civility in an Uncivil World,...
What Is Christian Civility? Christian civility is making an effort to let the light...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Loving Beyond Your Theology

Mitch — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:41:02 +0000

If you have even glanced at the list of contributors to, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, you will have some idea of the joy I had in bringing this group together. Each one is a deeply devoted Christian with enormous talents. Some of them are extremely well known and the others should be. Dr. Jimmy Allen was one of the first to give me the thumbs up and a very enthusiastic response. His chapter dealing with putting the New Baptist Covenant Meeting together is wonderful reading. Now Jimmy is the subject of a new book, Loving Beyond Your Theology, published by Mercer University Press. What a wonderful title, but better still what a wonderful description of a man who has dedicated his life to creating a better world and a better religious climate. Jimmy Allen is a giant among giants. I first met him in 1986 when I went to Fort Worth, Texas to be interviewed about my book, Speaking in Church Made Simple. Today they would have just skyped me. Jimmy was the brains and heart behind the ACTS Network. In the new book Jimmy Carter gives a great deal of credit to Jimmy Allen for his election as president. These are two Christian leaders that we can trust.

I am grateful to God for Bringing Jimmy Allen to me. We had a wonderful chance to get together at a meeting on Daniel Island. What a wonderful man. Read his chapter in my book and then read the new book about him, Loving Beyond Your Theology: The Life and Ministry of Jimmy Raymond Allen by Larry McSwain published by Mercer University Press.

Allen Makes the Case for Civility Civility has moved to a place where we can respect...
My Birthday Devotion Today on my birthday I am thankful for all of...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Inch by Inch

Mitch — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:59:21 +0000

The Rev. Jerry Wagner used an excerpt from, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, in a sermon at Picture Rock United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania on July 04. The section he used dealt with my visit to the Crystal Cathedral and the sermon by Robert Schuler. We met Pat and Jerry at Chautauqua several years ago through our friends Jane and Bob Russell. Jerry is a great punster and has a wonderful sense of humor.

Brown Bag Lunch at Baptist House – July 14 I will lead a discussion on Christian Civility at Baptist...
Unitarian Church in Charleston – Father’s Day :Apples of Gold in Baskets of Silver," will be my...
Blessed and Loved We are blessed and loved by God and we bless...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Brown Bag Lunch at Baptist House – July 14

Mitch — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:01:54 +0000

I will lead a brown bag lunch discussion on Christian Civility at the Baptist House at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State at 12:15 on July 14. The United Church of Christ House is also a partner. The event is open to everyone. Rev. Bud Brown, resident chaplain of Baptist House, said, “This is certainly a topic that is very appropriate at Chautauqua. Rev. Laverne Gill, chaplain/administrator, of the UCC Society, said that they were happy to be a part of the discussion. Copies of, Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, will be available at the Chautauqua Bookstore. The Chautauqua Institution began in 1874 and has grown from there. It is on the banks of Lake Chautauqua and is a beautiful Victorian community.

Blessed and Loved We are blessed and loved by God and we bless...
Taking on Civility – Thomas C. Fox Civility is suffering at the national level and there has...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.