How long will America tolerate hate and rudeness in our public dialogue?

Incivility takes on many forms. It can be found in the gestures of a stranger amidst the morning commute, in a stolen moment at a music awards ceremony or on the lips of a Congressman on Capitol Hill. Is it possible to heal the character of America? The following are 10 thoughts on incivility in America:

• Where there is no demand there will be a reduced supply.
• One breaks the cycle of rudeness when one focuses on others rather than one’s self.
• It is possible to make clear one’s position without seeking to destroy or defame another.
• With public notoriety there should come responsibility and accountability.
• Reclaim the art of listening and you will foster understanding.
• We should seek to win over our opponent and at the very least gain his respect for the dignity with which we speak our convictions.
• We should do what is right not because we seek self benefit but because we stand on high moral ground.
• Respect for others begins with self respect.
• “I’ve seen too much hate to want to hate, myself.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In denouncing the rude and vile we join our collective voices to reclaim civility in America.

Civility goes beyond public apologies after the damage is done. It must emanate, not from polls and focus groups but rather from character and honor. Good people will sincerely disagree and the issues that divide us by their very nature impassion us.

The question is: How long will America tolerate hate and rudeness in our public dialogue? Perhaps the scriptures identify the need of the hour in the simplest of terms: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12)

Marriage is a covenant not simply a contract.

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) These words predate all governments reminding us that the institution of marriage is God ordained and defined.

Amidst high divorce rates and an unprecedented effort to redefine marriage, I propose 10 truths about marriage:

• Marriage is a covenant not simply a contract.
• One must not redefine original intent without the permission of the author.
• All indicators point toward the emotional, social and economic benefits of marriage.
• The virtues of commitment and faithfulness must be reclaimed in America.
• The state of the union is no stronger than the union of our marriages.
• The marriage penalty tax is contrary to the values we claim to embrace.
• There is no greater weapon against child poverty and crime than healthy marriages.
• Strengthen marriage and you strengthen the family.
• Strengthen families and you strengthen a nation.
• The definition of marriage was not originally based in social opinion or manmade laws and should not now be reduced to either.

Dr. Francis Schaeffer once said, “If there is no absolute beyond man’s ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions.” The definition of marriage was established by an authority higher than that of any government and more sacred than that of any opinion poll. America loses her moorings when we lose our absolutes.

One would think that the number one concern in our public schools would be violence or drugs, but for the ACLU it would seem that there is no greater threat than a Christian who has the audacity to pray before a meal on school grounds.

This week two school officials in Florida faced contempt charges and possible jail time because a prayer was said at a school luncheon. One would think that the number one concern in our public schools would be violence or drugs, but for the ACLU it would seem that there is no greater threat than a Christian who has the audacity to pray before a meal on school grounds. It is reported that there were no students present at the event, nor was anyone proselytized. The criminal charges pertained to a prayer over a meal.

The following are ten thoughts on the public expression of faith:

• People of faith have the same constitutional right to freedom of speech as any other citizen.
• If one believes that God does not exist, there should be no perceived threat amidst voluntary prayer.
• If God does exist, prayer is our sacred duty and greatest hope.
• Most school meals need all the prayer they can get.
• Students need not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom and expression at the school house gate.”— Supreme Court 1969
• Beware of groups who herald “freedom of speech” yet suppress expression of faith.
• The ACLU should invest their money in more than fighting voluntary prayer in school and nativity scenes at Christmas time.
• Rewrite America’s spiritual heritage and a nation loses its identity.
• “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for benefits, and humbly to implore his protection, aid and favors.’ — George Washington

Genuine faith has always thrived amidst persecution. As the ACLU seeks to force the hand of school officials by silencing prayer from the stage at graduation ceremonies and ball games, students are choosing to stand and pray anyway. Freedom of speech and faith cannot be muzzled. It is our sacred and constitutional right.

If a person of faith refuses to pray for one with whom he does not agree, that person reveals the limitations of his heart and character.

This week a Phoenix-area pastor referred to President Obama’s stance on abortion and expressed his hope that God would strike the President dead. He titled his message, “Why I hate Barack Obama.” While it is true that the pastor’s sentiments do not reflect the clergy or faith community as a whole, it is important that there be a clear message that such hatred should not be tolerated.

As a pastor myself, I believe whole heartedly that human life is sacred. It is my conviction that the tragic loss of unborn children is a blight on our nation. This belief is not incongruous with the truth that women who face unwanted pregnancies need respectful, loving counsel and support. Political expediency must not define life’s value, nor should women be a political or religious punching bag.

Clergy everywhere must decry hatred in all of its forms. To encourage hate in others is to abdicate the moral authority of the pulpit. When a guard came to seize Jesus and take him to the cross, one of his followers drew a sword, cutting off the man’s ear. Jesus’ response was to rebuke his follower and to heal the guard’s wounds. Not only is it possible to take a strong stand without misrepresenting God, it is a sacred responsibility of all people of faith.

The scriptures give a clear mandate to pray for our leaders. If a person of faith refuses to pray for one with whom he does not agree, that person reveals the limitations of his heart and character. I call upon all people of faith to pray for President Obama that he will be granted God’s wisdom, reflect God’s heart, and walk in God’s grace.

America is facing a silent epidemic. Loneliness permeates our society. As technology advances and our life styles become busier, the most basic of needs are going unmet.

America is facing a silent epidemic. Loneliness permeates our society. As technology advances and our life styles become busier, the most basic of needs are going unmet. We have become accustomed to a lesser appetite when it comes to connectedness and it is creating a deficit of the soul. The following are 10 thoughts on loneliness:

1. 70% of Americans describe their lives as having many acquaintances but few close friends.
2. Mother Teresa: “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved and uncared for…”
3. E-mail is substituting the sound of the human voice and face to face contact.
4. Life is like an elevator: we’re surrounded by people but no connection.
5. According to one survey, 90% of the male population lacks a true friend.
6. The benefit of touch can be the difference between sickness and health; life and death.
7. Basic felt needs include: love, shared experience, trust and disclosure.
8. The average American watches 4 hours of TV a day, far beyond the time invested in family communication or outside community activity.
9. Prioritizing career advancement, we have opted to be mobile — leaving behind the family and friends who nurtured us.
10. Researchers found that from 1985-2004 the number of people with whom Americans feel they can discuss important matters dropped by nearly a third.

The concept of man needing meaningful relationship is as old as the scriptures. The book of Ecclesiastes is relevant in our modern society, marked by isolated ladder climbers, as it declares that we are strengthened and accomplish more when connected to others. We must reject shallow roots which produce surface commitments and invest in meaningful relationships lest true community becomes extinct in America.