Stephen W. Hiemstra's Blog, page 252

Christian Civility—Learning to Live in the Divine Gaze

Richard J. Mouw.  2010.  Uncommon Decency:  Christian Civility in an Uncivil World. Downers Grove:  IVP Books.

Review  by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Our society has become much more diverse. Measured in terms of race, the number of non-Hispanic whites fell from roughly 84 percent in 1965 to 62 percent in 2015 .  Among children under the age of 20, the trend is even more pronounced. Stated in terms of perspectives, we are more likely today to meet someone with a different cultural background and point of view than at any time since the Second World War . Consequently, Rodney King’s 1992 question: “Can we all get along?”  remains a serious question for everyone, but especially Christians who are supposed to model the love of Christ to those around them .

In his book, Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World, Christian ethicist Richard Mouw attempts to address Rodney King’s question. Mouw defines civility as: “public politeness” where “we display tact, moderation, refinement and good manners towards people who are different from us” (14). He further observes: “being civil is a way of becoming more like what God intends for us to be.” (15)  Importantly, he stresses that we do not have to approve of other people’s views (22) or to like them (24), but only to recognize their inherent right to express their views and to listen to them.

Mouw tells the story about a “crusty old Irish Catholic judge” whose days were filled with judging inner-city criminals. One day this judge had a what-would-Jesus-do (WWJD) moment just as he was about to give a tough sentence another street tough kid. He started to see this kid as a divine image bearer and in terms of his potential, not the person who he currently appeared to be (24-25).  Suddenly, this judge had a completely new attitude about his job and started having good conversation with these street kids. In Mouw’s words, the judge starting seeing “every human being a work of divine art” (26).

The story of the judge is essentially our story as we live day by day under the gaze of our ever-present God.  Mouw reminds us that: “God is always watching listening, some words are so offensive to God that they should never be uttered.” (46)  Two examples that Mouw offers are racist language (46) and a crusading mentality. Racist language is offensive to God because each of us in our diversity reflect the divine image.  A crusading mentality forgets God’s enduring love of the people whom he created. Mouw defines a crusader as: “people who think the cause they are fighting for is so important that they must use all means at their disposal to win.” (50). Using all or nothing rhetoric feeds this crusading attitude (53).

The term, divine gaze, is both novel and familiar. Mouw cites a familiar passage in Psalm 139 as an example of the divine gaze:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Ps 139:23-24)

This example of the divine gaze follows what appears to be the psalmist’s reminder to himself to hedge his own crusading spirit:

“Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.” (Ps 139:21-22)

Would that we were all so self-aware and God-aware!

Having had to confront the question of the Vietnam as a young man, I was intrigued by Mouw’s use of “just war” theory to develop guidelines for public discourse without incivility. These guidelines take the form of questions to consider in sorting through such discourse, including:

Is my cause a just one?
Am I sustained in my commitments by the wisdom of competent authorities?
Are my motives proper?
Is my move beyond mere civility a choice of last resort?
Is success likely?
Are the means I am employing proportionate to the good goals I want to promote? (142-46)

Mouw notes that Martin Luther’s stand against the Catholic church during the early days of the reformation was not an example of a lone crusade.  As a scholar and theologian, Luther was well-informed of short-comings of the church and sought advice from many mentors (143).  He further noted that Augustine, in arguing the case for a just war, was concerned that prisoners be treated humanely and that the rights of civilians be respected (146).  Augustine certainly was not just another apologist for a Roman war policy.

At the time of publication, Richard J. Mouw was president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, professor of Christian Philosophy, and the author of many books. He is currently a Professor of Faith and Public Life at the seminary [4]  He writes in 14 chapters preceded by an introduction and followed by an epilogue and notes.

In view of the wide range of topics covered, a brief review is inadequate to survey all the topics covered. Nevertheless, Mouw’s Uncommon Decency is both accessible and a good read. I suspect, however, that more than one read is needed to absorb all that he has to offer.  While I believe that most Christians would benefit from studying this book and would hope that journalists would take an interest, I suspect that seminary students and pastors are the intended audience.

 

Pew Research Center. 2015. “Modern Immigration Wave Brings 59 Million to U.S., Driving Population Growth and Change Through 2065.” Cited: 7 January 2015. Online: http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2015/09/2015-09-28_modern-immigration-wave_REPORT.pdf.

Is it any wonder that millennials and boomers differ so dramatically? For boomers, the world was entirely different; for millennials, this is the only world that they have ever known.

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sONf...

[4] http://fuller.edu/faculty/rmouw.

11. Prayers of a Life in Tension by Stephen W. Hiemstra

God of All Compassion:

Draw near to me in my grief

Let me not mourning alone.

I remember how you walked with me during sunny days

Days when the trees were bright with leaves

And the flowers bloomed along the beach and the hills and the forest.

Now that autumn has come and the days grow shorter

Be ever near as a I walk along along stormy paths

That wind through the shaddows and under leafless trees.

Forgive my aloofness, ever at a distance

Thinking that the sun would always shine

and warm breezes would stay near.

Forgive my tight-fisted attitude

Grasping at time, grasping at resources, grasping for myself.

Grant me a clear mind, a generous heart, and helpful hands

Through your Holy Spirit Almighty God

That I might be like you. Now and always.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Trexler Road

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy,

he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)

Trexler Road

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

My room on Trexler Road backed up to Greenbelt National Park [1].

It was on the ground floor so I could look out the window

To see the tree line against the stars at night

The break in tree line against the stars was the key

To walking paths in the woods at night without a flashlight

As I learned later as a counseler in camp.

People do crazy things when they think they are alone in the park.

The impulse to run in gangs led kids in the neighborhood

To arm themselves with homemade swords and shields

And build forts for protection.

We attacked each other and were vicious on summer days.

On school days, the streets were safe from bullies

Who preferred to pick fights on narrow bridges [2].

If someone challenged you to meet at the bridge,

Then it was best to take the long way home.

So when my parents took me to see a movie at Constitutional Hall [3]

About a gang member [4] who was vicious and got into fights

I could see myself.

When he bled, I bled. When he was afraid, I was afraid.

When he finally came to Christ, I came to Christ.

Life was never the same.

[1] http://www.nps.gov/gree/learn/nature/index.htm.

[2] Charles Carroll Junior High School, now a middle school, sits on a hill surrounded on three sides by creeks that could be crossed only on fallen trees or, much later, bridges built for students on my end of town.  http://www1.pgcps.org/CharlesCarroll.

[3] The Cross and the Switchblade is a book written in 1962 by pastor David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cross_and_the_Switchblade).

[4] NickyCruz.org.

10. Prayers of a Life in Tension by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Humble Father, Loving Son, Ever-present Spirit

Thank you for offering us forgiveness.

The gift of being accepted again into your presence.

A state of being at peace with you and with ourselves.

That we might find the strength to emulate you.

Offering hospitality humbly in your name

Where others other judgment and distance themselves.

We might forbear speaking and draw near enough to listen.

Give us a sense of the times and seasons of life.

And mark our times with the seasons of our relationship with you.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Cowboys and Indians

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal

and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (Luke 10:33-34 ESV)

Cowboys and Indians

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

The best games in grade school were played outdoors.

Baseball was great, but it took a lot of pounding on doors to get enough friends to play.

And the girls often did not want to play … girls preferred playing Red Rover or tag.

With Red Rover, you picked teams which stood about 30 feet apart.

On your turn, you chanted: Red Rover, Red Rover, please send Stephen over!

Then, the chanting team locked hands and Stephen ran over trying to crash through.

If Stephen crashed through, he returned to his team. If not, he joined the other team.

The game ended when one team acquired all the players [1].

Another fun game was Cowboys and Indians.

All that you needed were a few cap guns and maybe some bows and arrows.

Then we just chased each other around.

No body really won or lost—it was all about the chasing [2].

Some of my favorite books and television shows were about Cowboys and Indians.

I must have read every Lone Ranger book that I could find and never missed a show.

The Lone Ranger’s best friend was Tonto, an Indian who saved his life

after he was shot by outlaws and left for dead.

I always wished that I had a friend like that.

 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rover.

[2] http://www.ehow.com/how_4966958_play-....

9. Prayers of a Life in Tension by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Lord of the Sabbath:

Teach us to rest.

In a weary world,

Teach us to rest.

In a world too proud,

Help us to be humble salt.

Salt to provide flavor,

Salt that preserves,

Salt that graces every table.

In a world too busy to notice,

Through the power of your Holy Spirit—

Teach us to offer rest

To the weary among us.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

The Prince George’s Post

“For it will be like a man going on a journey,

who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

To one he gave five talents, to another two,

to another one, to each according to his ability.

Then he went away.” (Matt 25:14-15)

The Prince George’s Post

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

When I was seven we moved to Trexler Road

which begins with Good Luck Road and backs up to Greenbelt Park [1].

We were the second family to move to the neighborhood

and the houses were brand spanking new.

About a year later when I was eight

someone asked if I would carry papers for the Prince George’s Post.

I was new to the business,

but it seemed like a good way to earn some spending money

So I said okay.

The Post came out on Thursdays and cost a nickel.

Once a month I collected twenty cents and earned a nickel.

With 120 customers that meant about six dollars

to spend on building model airplanes and collecting coins—

Things too expensive for my allowance alone—

I even opened a saving account at the bank.

The papers came tied up in a bundle.

At first, the bundle would seem heavy

But pretty soon the carrying bag would be more manageable—

Even when riding my bike.

Most of my customers were on Trexler and Nashville Roads,

But I had a few customers on Wihelm Drive and Jodie Street.

I tried leaving sample papers with houses on other roads,

But things never seemed to work out.

[1] http://www.nps.gov/gree/index.htm

[2] http://www.PGPost.com

Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-20, English Standard Version

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Te Invita para Navidad

8. Prayers of a Life in Tension by Stephen W. Hiemstra

Father God, Beloved Son, Holy Spirit

We praise you for your example in life.

In you, the law and the prophets are fulfilled.

Not in words, but in actions.

We are no longer without hope.

Good news is preached,

Broken hearts are healed,

Liberty is proclaimed for the captives.

In you, there is jubilee.

In you, there is comfort.

In you, death is forever banished.

That we may never mourn again.

Amen and amen.