It Costs Nothing to Be Kind

 St. Mark is offering an all-church Sunday school class during the month of August on “Reclaiming Civility” in all of our interactions. During these divisive times, it seems there are two very distinct camps regarding public engagement. There are those who grab the headlines with their outspoken bombastic remarks on anything and everything. These folks are looking for a fight, and they are not happy until they make you just as unhappy as they are. When you go through life like a hammer, everyone else looks like a nail. We all know people like this. On the other end of the spectrum are those who do not engage at all. They hold strong opinions, but they believe their voice is not important enough to be heard. For them, it’s best to remain silent lest they “stir the hornet’s nest” and get dragged into unwanted conflict. I know many people who, because of fear or uncertainty, are content to remain on the sidelines. 

We will discuss the four virtues of civility over this four-week class. The Apostle Paul describes patience as the first characteristic of love, and it is the primary virtue of civic discourse as we seek to listen and to speak. Integrity demands we represent and respond to other positions honestly and accurately. It prohibits the quick dismissal or intentional mischaracterization of our opponent’s views. The following virtue is humility, and it requires us to be open to the possibility we could change our minds and believe something different than we do now. Finally, we need to reclaim mutual respect and see the image of God in everyone, especially with those who hold different opinions. 

Mark Twain, among many others, is credited with saying, “Don’t wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig enjoys it.” There’s a lot of truth in this quote. There are people who are always looking to sling mud, and it’s best to avoid them since they are not looking for an honest dialogue and understanding. I would never advocate anyone enter into an abusive relationship knowingly. We have to have a discerning heart with whom we are going to engage. As followers of Christ, the one thing we cannot do is abandon the public square to the mean-spirited folks who carry the largest microphones. 

It costs nothing to be kind, and, along with patience, it is a top characteristic of love. Kindness means we don’t shout down our enemies or retreat from these difficult conversations in silence. Kindness means listening honestly to others and speaking truthfully from our own experiences. I really hope you will consider joining us inperson or online for these classes. The world needs your faithful voice, and I believe this class will help you find it. 

In Hope and Confidence,

 Pastor Dave