"Why Can't We All Just Get Along?"
That was the cry of Rodney King, the African-American man who was mercilessly beaten on March 3, 1991, by members of the Los Angeles police department. It became a rallying cry for the nation in the midst of hostile race wars. And it's applicable today, as we find ourselves in very different--but no less contentious--culture wars.
The simple answer is, we are unique people with conflicting passions. But, shouldn't it be different for followers of Jesus? Shouldn't those of us who claim to follow the Prince of Peace be able to stand firmly upon our convictions without being offensive, cutting or downright mean?
Historically, there have always been pockets of Christians who give God a bad name--the Crusades, slavery, segregated America. While those are some of the most egregious examples, late-20th century Americans nurtured a new un-Christian trend: incivility in public discourse.
Many Christians during this period noticed the widespread so-called "moral decline" in America and responded with organized political activism. A passion developed among America's faithful, and with it came vicious public debates on hot-button issues like prayer in schools, the public display of the Ten Commandments, abortion and gay rights. As America polarized, public attacks became commonplace--even among Christians.
This struggle for control of our nation's rudder--these "culture wars"--has hurt the public perception of Christianity. As recent Barna research shows, most non-believers feel "Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others." Today, 70 percent of non-Christians aged 16 to 29 say Christians are "insensitive to others."
Such perceptions have triggered Christian thinkers from the right and left to wonder if this is the best practice for Christ-followers. Public engagement and personal passion over moral issues is laudable, but we should defend our deeply held convictions logically and lovingly instead of emotionally. We should temper our rhetoric with grace, humility and respect. We must learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
"Continuing the present course of the culture wars spells disaster for the United States and a historic failure to seize the moment and demonstrate to the world the significance of the American experiment," writes Os Guinness in The Case for Civility.
On his God's Politics blog, Jim Wallis posted "Rules for Christian Civility," saying we should "not attack our fellow Christians as Democratic or Republican partisans, but rather expect and respect the practice of putting our faith first ... even if we reach different conclusions." Conservative columnist Peggy Noonan spoke out in her recent book, Patriotic Grace. "What we need most right now, at this moment, is a kind of patriotic grace," she writes. "A grace that takes the long view, apprehends the moment we're in, comes up with ways of dealing with it, and eschews the politically cheap and manipulative."
Political incivility last year prompted Mark DeMoss to launch The Civility Project. DeMoss is the president of the largest Christian PR firm in America and has represented such conservative icons as Jerry Falwell, Franklin Graham and Charles Colson. "During the 2008 election, I began noticing some of the ugly things being said about people like Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, much of it by evangelicals," DeMoss says.
DeMoss' Civility Project asks people to pledge to be civil in public discourse and behavior, respect others whether or not they agree, and stand against incivility. "I think more people than we realize are clamoring for more respectful debate, especially on politics," he says. "People are getting turned off to the entire system, Republicans and Democrats."
DeMoss has joined with Democratic thinker Lanny Davis in this project, and both are careful to point out that civility doesn't mean unity. Americans will never agree on everything. Furthermore, civility doesn't simply mean being nice. "There are pragmatic and practical reasons for civility," he says. "It is virtually impossible to have constructive dialogue or to inform and educate people in an uncivil environment."
Incivility is a cultural problem, and is not localized to the Christian community. From Kanye West's infamous mic-snatching during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, to South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson shouting "you lie" at President Obama in the middle of his address to Congress, to Serena Williams' expletive-laced rant after a line judge called a foot fault on her during the U.S. Open, it seems we're no longer concerned about people's feelings.
But Scripture says our attitudes should mirror Jesus' as we put others above ourselves. Somehow, I just can't imagine Jesus at a town hall meeting screaming His lungs out and comparing the president to Hitler.
Rather than getting dragged into the vicious spirit marking today's public debates, Jesus would express the fruits of a greater Spirit: love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. Rather than letting opposing positions frustrate us, let's see them as opportunities to live the virtues of our faith. Let's infuse grace and humility into an uncivil world.
Jonathan Merritt is author of Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet.
Follow Jonathan Merritt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonathanmerritt
It is deplorable.
In our church, people of multiple ages, races, ethnicities, and political leanings not only worship together, but have deep ties, deeper than many families.
There are no political discussions or opinions allowed at the pulpit. Members are encouraged to vote in whichever way appeals to their consciences.
Jesus never bothered with the government, nor did his apostles. It was the individual he was concerned with. His followers would do well to do the same.
When I ask them what Jesus would think of their opinions the most they have to answer is that the system of capitalism will help the health care problem, so that's what we should let handle it and leave it alone. It's the same basic answer as their hero Sarah Palin (gag!). Regarding Obama they just think they're justified because of how badly they think he's ruining the country. They would have rather had Queen Iquitarod and her court jester take over with their brand of theocracy
They say all the prayers and go through all the motions of their religion, but they have no idea what any of it really means. I don't know if I should feel sad for them or nauseated, and sometimes it feels like it's hardly even worth me arguing with them anymore.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke: 18:9-14)
(Matthew 25:41-45)
Both of them are heavily against health care reform and say, "Why should MY tax money go towards that? It's ONLY 15 million people (or whatever number) in this country without health insurance. I have insurance and don't know anyone without it. Why should we go through all this trouble and expense just for these people?" Seriously, they've said these things as if people are just objects, something to throw away. They've laughed out load about stories of Obama getting so many de@th threats and talked about wishing they'd succeed. As much as I despised Dubya, I never said things remotely like this.
(cont. below)
(Luke 20:22-25)
Somehow the MSM started running the show and has made every thing much worse. I don't know how we could ever go back to being civil or even kind.
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Christianity has a 20 century history of incivility, starting with the founder.
So being sharp-tongued with those with whom you disagree is nothing more or less than a good example of "What Would Jesus Do".
And of course, the senior member of the trinity team is big into whacking unbelievers, heretics, apostates and backsliders - pretty much non-stop - from Genesis all the way through Revelations.
So party on, Garth. Like they said in WAG THE DOG, you don't want to change horses in mid-stream.
Or do you?