The collapse of civility in our political discourse is manifesting itself in violence and chaos. The Bible affirms both civility and truth and establishes a balance that is the corrective our culture desperately needs.
7. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Key Questions:
1. What role has the internet had in
shaping our uncivil discourse?
2. What does the Bible have to say
about civility in our discourse?
3. Are there biblical limits to civility?
8. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
1. What role
has the internet
had in shaping
our uncivil
discourse?
9. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
“I’m accustomed to Internet
forums where rudeness and
incivility are the rule, where
too many people seem to
take pride in their insults.”
Bryan
Burrough
10. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
The Online Disinhibition Effect
1. Anonymity
You don’t
know me!
11. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
The Online Disinhibition Effect
2. Invisibility
You can’t see
me!
12. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
The Online Disinhibition Effect
3. Stop/Start
Communication
See you later!
13. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
The Online Disinhibition Effect
4. Minimizing
Authority
We’re equals!
14. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Our Two
Party System
is Dead
Andrew Levine
15. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
2. What does the
Bible have to say
about civility in
our discourse?
16. Regaining Civility in an increasingly uncivil
Definition of “Biblical Civility”
“Biblical civility is the respectful
attitude and courtesy that believers
have for one another in community that
extends outwardly to all human beings.
It is a value based on the fundamental
belief that all human beings are created
in the image of God.” – Hal West
17. Civility in our Speech
5bHow great a forest is set ablaze by
such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is
a fire, a world of unrighteousness.
The tongue is set among our
members, staining the whole body,
setting on fire the entire course of
life, and set on fire by hell. (James 3)
18. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Speech
Let no corrupting talk come out of
your mouths, but only such as is
good for building up, as fits the
occasion, that it may give grace to
those who hear. (Eph. 4:29)
19. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Speech
Let your conversation be
always full of grace, seasoned
with salt. (Col. 4:6 NIV)
20. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Conduct
Treat others the same way you
want them to treat you. (Luke
6:31)
21. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Conduct
Let us therefore make every
effort to do what leads to
peace and to mutual
edification. (Rom. 14:19 NIV)
22. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Conduct
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones,
holy and beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness,
and patience. (Col. 3:12)
23. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Civility in our Witness
Gently instruct those who oppose
the truth. Perhaps God will change
those people's hearts, and they will
learn the truth. (2 Tim. 2:25 NLT)
24. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
3. Are there
biblical limits
to civility?
25. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you are like
whitewashed tombs, which
outwardly appear beautiful, but
within are full of dead people’s
bones and all uncleanness.
26. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
28So you also outwardly appear
righteous to others, but within you
are full of hypocrisy and
lawlessness.
27. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
29“Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build
the tombs of the prophets and
decorate the monuments of the
righteous,
28. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
30saying, ‘If we had lived in the days
of our fathers, we would not have
taken part with them in shedding the
blood of the prophets.’
29. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
31Thus you witness against
yourselves that you are sons of
those who murdered the
prophets. 32Fill up, then, the
measure of your fathers.
30. Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
33You serpents, you brood of vipers,
how are you to escape being
sentenced to hell?
31. Paul and the “Judaizers” – Gal. 5
7You were running well. Who
hindered you from obeying the
truth? 8This persuasion is not from
him who calls you. 9A little leaven
leavens the whole lump.
32. Paul and the “Judaizers” – Gal. 5
10I have confidence in the Lord that
you will take no other view, and the
one who is troubling you will bear
the penalty, whoever he is.
33. Paul and the “Judaizers” – Gal. 5
11But if I, brothers, still preach
circumcision, why am I still being
persecuted? In that case the offense
of the cross has been removed. 12I
wish those who unsettle you would
emasculate themselves!
34. Peter against the “Dissenters” –
2 Peter 2
12 But these, like irrational
animals, creatures of instinct, born
to be caught and destroyed,
blaspheming about matters of which
they are ignorant, will also be
destroyed in their destruction,
35. 22 What the true proverb says has
happened to them: “The dog returns
to its own vomit, and the sow, after
washing herself, returns to wallow
in the mire.” (2 Peter 2)
Peter against the “Dissenters” –
2 Peter 2
36. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Some biblical truths to embrace
1.Civility must not be
elevated over truth.
37. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
2.Hypocrites and false
teachers should be dealt
with more harshly.
Some biblical truths to embrace
38. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Some biblical truths to embrace
3.We need to be aware of
our culture.
39. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Some biblical truths to embrace
4. We need to be balanced
in our approach to
civility and truth-telling.
40. Regaining Civility in an
increasingly uncivil society
Regaining
Civility
in an increasingly
uncivil society
Hinweis der Redaktion
“So, I’m happy to deliver beat down to Donald Trump – and also to Barron. You know a lot of comics are going to go hard for Donald, my edge is that I’ll go directly for Barron. I’m going to get ahead of the game.” Dec. 2016
Key Questions:
What role has the internet had in shaping our incivil discourse?
What does the Bible have to say about civility in our discourse?
Are there biblical limits to civility?
1. What role has the internet had in shaping our incivil discourse?
Columnist for Vanity Fair, Bryan Burrough made the following comment:
“I’m accustomed to Internet forums where rudeness and incivility are the rule, where too many people seem to take pride in their insults.”
The Online Disinhibition Effect
1. Anonymity – You don’t know me!
2, Invisibility – You can’t see me!
3. Stop/Start Communication – See you later!
4. Minimizing Authority – We’re equals!
Matt, I know you reached out to me as one of your conservative friends. I am proud be both, a conservative and your friend…
Stephen, thank you SO much for your perspective. I really wanted thoughtful people from each side of the aisle (so to speak) to weigh in. I was afraid that you might take offense to the article's utilizing the Nietzsche assertion about God. I'm glad you lent your perspective, which I respect, even if I'm not personally a believer in all of the same things that you are, my old friend.
2. What does the Bible have to say about civility in our discourse?
Definition of “Biblical Civility”
“Biblical civility is the respectful attitude and courtesy that believers have for one another in community that extends outwardly to all human beings. It is a value based on the fundamental belief that all human beings are created in the image of God.” – Hal West
Civility in our Speech
5bHow great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (James 3)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Eph. 4:29)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt. (Col. 4:6 NIV)
Civility in our Conduct
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Rom. 14:19 NIV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (Col. 3:12)
Civility in our Witness
Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. (2 Tim. 2:25 NLT)
3. Are there biblical limits to civility?
Jesus and the Pharisees – Mt. 23
27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,
30saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
31Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
Paul and the “Judaizers” – Gal. 5
7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
11But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
Peter against the “Dissenters”
12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction,
22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
Some biblical truths to embrace
1. Civility must not be elevated over truth.
2. Hypocrites and false teachers should be dealt with more harshly.
3. We need to be aware of our culture.
4. We need to be balanced in our approach to civility and truth-telling.