The Erosion of Civility: A Call to Rediscover Compassion
In today’s public discourse, it’s easy to get caught up in the toxic tide of accusation, shaming, and vulgarity. As I reflect on the state of our conversations, I’m reminded of the proverbial frog in the pot, slowly boiling to death as the temperature rises. It’s time to take a step back and reassess our approach to engaging with others.
The Power of Compassion
The Bible offers a powerful antidote to our toxic rhetoric. In Colossians 3:12-15, we’re reminded of the importance of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These virtues are not optional; they’re essential for building strong, meaningful relationships. As God’s chosen people, we’re called to clothe ourselves with these characteristics, bearing with each other and forgiving one another as the Lord forgave us.
Unpacking the Virtues
Each of these virtues holds a special significance. Compassion is about identifying with the distress of others and relieving their discomfort. Kindness is choosing to be considerate, others-focused, and generous. Humility is the opposite of pride, which can lead to entitlement and control. Gentleness is responding in a way that makes others feel safe, while patience is choosing to wait for gratification or vindication. Forbearance is exercising patient self-control, and forgiveness is giving up the delusion that we have nothing to forgive.
Choosing Love and Peace
Ultimately, it’s about choosing to live out 1 Corinthians 13, committing to making peace, not war. It’s about letting Jesus referee in our hearts. These virtues are not just abstract concepts; they’re reflections of God’s character, demonstrated through His indwelling grace. We have the power to choose how we respond to others, and I choose to walk the Colossians 3 way.
A Call to Action
We all make choices every day. Will we choose to engage in toxic rhetoric, or will we opt for compassion, kindness, and humility? The temperature may be rising, but it’s not too late to jump out of the pot. Let’s rediscover the power of civil engagement, and choose to respond to others out of our experience of God’s indwelling grace.
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