Christian Civility » civility

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.

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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.

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Restoring Christian Civility

Mitch — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:31:51 +0000

The Brown Bag Lunch discussion at the Baptist House at Chautauqua on July 14 went extremely well. There was a good group eager to discuss the problem and to begin to find a solution. There were many questions and even more examples of how bad the situation really is. The program was co-sponsored by the United Church of Christ Association. Pat Brown the hostess of Baptist House was helpfulness itself. The idea is to do it again next year and to keep the discussion going. On Friday afternoon there was a session, “Is Civility Only for the History Books/” It was presented by Robert E. Bullock, president of the Archives’ Partnership Trust of New York. He chose five examples of public civility as examples for his presentation. There was a discussion to which I contributed after someone raised a very disturbing question. “Are religious hard liners adding to or helping to create the atmosphere of incivility in our culture?” This session was also very well attended. There seems to be a real desire to turn down the rhetoric and to make our communication more Christ like. There is a place for everyone to get involved. Join us. Resolve not to become a part of the harshness, and to spread a message of peace

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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.

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Unitarian Church in Charleston – Father’s Day

Mitch — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:16:56 +0000

The Unitarian Church in Charleston has invited me to speak this Sunday which is Father’s Day. I will be introduced or perhaps roasted by my son, Michael. It is a beautiful, historic church. My topic will be, “Apples of Gold in Baskets of Silver,” based on the Psalms. The pastor called with a warm welcome. This is what civility is about since everyone knows and respects the fact that I always speak from a Christian perspective. Many years ago when I was teaching an adult Sunday school class at First Baptist of Charleston, we had a series of monthly discussions with the Secular Humanists. It was a learning experience for all of us. If I survive the introduction, it should be a wonderful event. The service will be in Gage Hall next door since the church is undergoing some historic restoration.

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