Restoring Civility
Peacemaking in the era of Trump, Pelosi, and Ocasio-Cortez.
When political views have divided relationships .
We are living an era of incivility. Where we talk less about the issues and more about the differences we have with an individual or group of people. I am a republican. I am a democrat. I am a socialist. I am black. I am white. I am Asian. I am. I am. I am. I am.
The incivility increases day by day. We have stopped listening to each other. We talk over each other. We think more about our rebuttal than about understanding the other person. We make statements about our opinions rather than asking questions to try and understand.
The incivility has crept into the church. Churches put down groups that are contrary to what they believe. Yes we need to have beliefs but do we really need all the incivility?
We have to come to the point where we can truly help our culture to embrace civility. In this blog series we talk about restoring civility back to our civilization.
Some may say that this blog is too idealistic, too biblical, too naïve, or too something else. However, I know the answer to our current political culture is not found in more of what we have been doing for decades, if not centuries. I know the answer is found in the word of God.
It is time that the people of God stand up and lead out in creating a culture of civility. It doesn’t mean we roll over and don’t truly believe in our cause. It does mean that as we stand we must stand in such away that we glorify God. Our political differences and interactions should be done in a way that glorifies God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB95)
“31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
So let’s jump in to Peacemaker Ministries Restoring Civility Blog Series.
When it comes to politics, we all can have a level of arrogance that wells up in our hearts. We believe what we believe is right. We also believe that everyone should see it the same way we see it. That is why we believe it.
Our political views can be debated, discussed, and even examined but we need to come to the place where we defeat political arrogance. Standing for what we believe in but in a clear and humble way.
Political arrogance is where we look at our political views as superior to others in such a way that we diminish the value of the person that we are in opposition with. One can see a family member, a brother or sister in Jesus as less. And this is the type of arrogance I am talking about.
Peacemaker Ministries Restoring Civility:
Defeating Political Arrogance
Philippians 2:3 (NASB95)
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”
Wow! This bible verse would greatly change how we interact in our political discussions, if we could only begin to lay down our selfishness and empty conceit. It is easy to see this challenge in view of marriage, work, but rarely politics. Yes, that is correct. We are to see this in view of politics as well.
Think about the last time political arrogance entered into your conversation. Were you thinking about removing selfishness? Were you looking through empty conceit? This can be so challenging because most of the time our political views are filled with conceit, pride, and selfishness. We truly believe what we believe is correct. It is hard to think through humility.
If we want to break down or defeat political arrogance, we must begin to regard others as more important than ourselves. This is the most difficult. Especially in our political views it is easy to think that we, or our views, are more important.
This is the amazing thing about God’s word. It applies to all areas of our life. We can’t limit it just to one. We must embrace His truths in every area. Now look at the next verse and tell me if it doesn’t challenge you in your political views.
Peacemaker Ministries Restoring Civility:
Defeating Political Arrogance
Philippians 2:4 (NASB95)
“do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
We should not only look out for our own interests. Most political arrogance is rooted in looking out for my own personal interest. Instead, we are to look out for the interest of others. God’s word challenges us to think of others.
The question that keeps rolling around in my mind is this: how do I make changes when I am looking out for other people’s interest and at the same time look out for the interest that are my own? This is the challenge. This is the call upward. We must remember to listen and to really figure out what the interests of the opposing party are. This is difficult when we talk over each other. When we don’t listen to each other.
Political arrogance will only be defeated when we take on the character of Jesus. When walk in his steps of humility and seek to serve each other. I know it may sound like I am saying roll over, sweep it under the carpet, don’t deal with it, but really I am not. I am saying we will not get anywhere with more political arrogance. We truly need political humility if we want to change our culture.
I hope this blog has encouraged you. If you need prayer for civility to return to your family, community, church, or workplace; please do not hesitate to email us your prayer request at prayer@peacemaker.training or give us a call 800-711-7118.
P. Brian Noble