In observing absurd online comments, fellow Montanan, Dr. Brian Mattson warns: “We’re in danger of ditching reason, evidence, and argument. If the alternative is nothing but shallow, narcissistic, passive-aggressive, juvenile sandbox jeers, I really am eavesdropping on the end of civilization.”
Friend, are we nearing the end? How do we restore civilization/civility?
Two Christian legislators forged these truths in legislative conflict: “We are imperfect people dealing with imperfect people – we all have limited information. Can we cover weaknesses with tender strength so we can have big discussions?” (MT Representative, Kerri-Seekins Crowe) “We avoid adversarial relationships by not judging motives, avoiding name calling, seeking to extend professional courtesy.” (MT Senator, Tom McGillvray)
Friend, what about us?
Instead of promoting or acquiescing to contempt, we must begin with God.
And how do we get to God?
Through Christ.
Christian, how did Christ’s grace and truth draw you to God?
Many reply: “C.S. Lewis’ engaging arguments helped me love God with my mind.”
David C. Downing in “The Most Reluctant Convert, C.S. Lewis’ Journey to Faith” chronicles challenges Lewis faced in coming to Christ. “Lewis’ childhood to his early thirties involved a tumultuous journey of spiritual and intellectual exploration before he became the ‘most reluctant convert’”.
For Lewis, two guides/friends on this tumultuous journey, Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien, fellow professors, humbly/civilly/creatively/personally/persuasively pointed the way to Christ. For example, during a September 1931 late night stroll with Lewis along Addison’s Walk at Magdalen College, they discussed how legends could serve as “true myths” pointing to the ultimate truth of the Gospel.
When did Lewis realize how essential Christ is for connecting us with God?
Come back to September 1931. Lewis recalls a motorcycle sidecar trip with his brother, Warnie, to the Whipsnade Zoo: “When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did.” (Lewis’ memoir, “Surprised by Joy”)
Later, in a play, “Tolkien”, we find this dialogue:
DYSON: So Jack Lewis found God!
LEWIS: I didn’t “find God.”
TOLKIEN: How would you put it, then?
LEWIS: This isn’t something I went looking for. It wasn’t even anything I wanted! I was a deer hiding in the woods: the Hunter stalked me, not the other way ‘round. (“Tolkien”, Draft Nine: June, 2018, Ron Reed)
Friend, what is your story about Christ uniting you with God? Or perhaps that story is still to unfold.
And now we come to civility, loving our neighbor.
After beginning the adventure of loving God in Christ, Lewis loved his neighbor with new resources. How did Lewis bring his spiritual journey to us?
Many came to love God through Lewis’ inimitable book, “Mere Christianity”. That classic originated from BBC broadcasts in London during World War II – when individuals/families/churches/communities/states/nations sacrificed greatly to resist resolute evil.
For Lewis, World War II resurrected World War I PTSD. Lewis’ stepson described hearing Lewis crying out at night.
Still, Lewis persevered. To get to the radio station, Lewis caught an Oxford train to London, sometimes making the trip while Blitzkrieg bombs fell! Eventually, the BBC moved his broadcast to 10:20 p.m. Then, Lewis caught the midnight train back to Oxford, not getting home until 3 a.m. He loved us despite his war-time struggle!
Now, neighbors, consider a war-time “conversation” between Lewis and Warnie: This war “is all so terribly far from civilization. Think about it, Warnie – civilization – making something civil. Well-behaved. Ordered. Tidy houses.” (Reed, “Tolkien”)
Nevertheless, despite that distance, Lewis helped neighbors get past the Blitz to: “Well behaved. Ordered. Tidy houses” and so much more.
The dictionary defines civilization as: “The process of bringing a society out of a state of ignorance, or ‘barbarism’ into a refined, law-abiding state.”
But, how can an impersonal process civilize? God, we need the Person, You, teaching us to speak the truth in love. Thus, despite living in an “age of unreason”, Judeo/Christians still have reasons for holy neighborliness.
God, we ponder that You wrote such kind engagement into law. “If you meet your ‘enemy’s’ ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of ‘one who hates you’ lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.” (Exodus 23:4,5)
But even good laws can’t sanctify hearts.
So, God, we go deeper. The kindness You require stems from You making every single human being in Your image. Despite real corruption, God, we are kin because You show common grace to so many. Jesus: “Your Father in heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mt. 5:45)
So, Paul wrote: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
Calvin: “We ought to embrace the whole human race without exception in a single feeling of love; here there is no distinction between worthy and unworthy, friend and enemy, since all should be contemplated in God, not in themselves. When we turn aside from such contemplation, it is no wonder we become entangled in many errors.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Chapter 8, Section 55)
Charles H. Spurgeon: “For us to hate those who are in error, or talk of them with contempt or wish them ill will, or do them wrong is not in the Spirit of Christ. You cannot cast out Satan by Satan, nor violence by error, nor overcome hate by hate. The Christian’s conquering weapon is love.” (1888)
This is not a culturally sanitized religion of Niceianity, compliant Minnesota Nice’s failure. There are real enemies we must resist.
Still, God, as we stand in Christ with You and Your truth, You call us to give room for grace, for possible enduring connections with present enemies/future partners. You may be at work in any human relationship! May Your kingdom come; Your will be done.
