I’ve blogged since December 2010! My blogging has become less consistent for several reasons. For one, I think I wrote about the issues that most interested me during the opening years of the blog – and I don’t have much else to say about those things.
I check to see what posts are being read on my blog, and many posts have disappeared into the past – lost in the archives – never showing up in my stats. However, there are a few posts that continue to be viewed. To a certain extent, this is curious, as some of these posts I don’t necessarily consider my best writing or the most interesting topics.
I plan to re-blog some posts that continue to bring traffic to the blog. Here is a re-blog from August 2011 entitled:
Common Courtesy and the Christian
I came across this article entitled “Is commitment out of fashion?” – The author shares his experiences with general discourtesy, and people failing to keep their commitments. I agree with the author that this type of behavior has become widespread and sadly, almost “normal”. Common courtesy does not seem so common anymore! The article is a secular one, but I wanted to approach it from a Christian perspective.
Titus 3:2 states that we should “show perfect courtesy to all people”. Other versions word it slightly differently, stating we should be considerate, meek, or show true humility towards others. Similarly, Scripture also commands us to honor or respect others (Romans 12:10, I Peter 2:17).
Perhaps the greatest example in how to treat others is found in Philippians chapter 2. For years, I completely missed the main point of this chapter. I tend to think more academically, and I always thought of it as the theological chapter on the kenosis (how Jesus limited himself and became human). Yet, that is the secondary point! Doctrine was not the primary point at all. Doctrine was rather being used as an illustration. We are to be humble because Jesus was humble. What we believe must affect how we live. Verses 3-5 state:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
How are we treating others? Are we imitating Christ? As Christians, we believe in the Imago Dei – that human beings are made in the image of God and reflect their Creator. We should acknowledge others, and our behavior towards them should affirm their worth as reflecting the image of God.
In our modern technological and depersonalized society, treating others with courtesy, honor and respect is sorely needed. As Christians, we should excel at this and be known for it!
Are we on time, or do we call to let someone know we will be late?
If we borrow something, do we treat the item with care and return it promptly?
Do we return phone calls or e-mails in a timely manner?
Do we express thanks to others when they assist us in some way?
Do we RSVP to the invitations we receive?
Do we think of how others might need our assistance and offer to help them?
Are we reliable? Do we keep our commitments?
Keeping a commitment means we follow through on what we say we will do.
As Christians we should value people, and our priorities and behavior should reflect that.
While I could give many examples of the courteous and kind behavior of Christians, I unfortunately had a very bad experience the last 3 years at a local church. I’m still trying to figure it out. Discourtesy seemed rampant. Official leadership and lay leadership alike would fail to reply to e-mails, pass the buck, say they would do something and then not do it, etc. Communication and reliability was problematic to say the least. I don’t want it to sound like I am a demanding person with unrealistic expectations. Those who know me personally would attest that I am actually an independent person that does not like to bother people.
These experiences of the last 3 years at this church were new for me. I’d actually never experienced anything quite like it before! (By the way, my spouse went through it with me.) To be almost completely ignored, not listened to, and treated with such discourtesy….it made us feel…frustrated, insignificant, lacking value.
We felt like invisible people.
This is not how Christians are to treat each other.
A secondary concern we had was this: We are solid believers, and although this discouraged us, it has not made us abandon our faith.
But what about that unbeliever or struggling believer who reaches out to this church and is ignored?
It is hard for some people to reach out for help, and they may not reach out again.
An opportunity may have been lost.
They may now have a negative view of “the church” because of the discourtesy shown them.
It is good to try and learn from experiences. Never before had I felt like an invisible person! And I don’t ever want to make someone else feel like an invisible person either! I’ve been carefully considering my own behavior, and through the power of the Spirit, I am trying to treat others in a way that demonstrates that I value, honor and respect them.
I’ve been reading the old Dale Carnegie classic “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. It is not a Christian book, and certain aspects of the underlying philosophy are a little off. But as Christians we are to value others, and this book offers practical ideas on how to demonstrate to others that we value them.
As always, thanks for listening.
Enough Light 
I understand what you are saying so very well. I began blogging in 2010, too. I think I have said it all. How many more ways can you say the same thing? Sometimes I get discouraged that I did not make the difference I thought I would make. Sometimes I think that I am just preaching to the choir. Sometimes – maybe most of the times – I wonder if anybody has any idea of how much work I put into working for women’s equality when most women themselves do not even care. Then I meet those who do care. Such as the 35ish woman who told me Saturday that she was 30 when she began understanding that her church may be wrong in how women are treated. So I keep on, fueled by those nuggets. I want to thank you for your work. I want to thank you for putting yourself out there for others to see, for being vulnerable as we must be because we are real people. God bless you.
Awh, thanks Shirley! Yes, writing can be isolating and discouraging, but then you get occasional “nuggets” that help you to press on.