Civil Assent in the Church

This is it, y’all!  The last post what I’ve begun calling the “Be Polite!” series.

If you missed any of this, check out the posts on being Courteously Reverent in our marriages and the four principles of Polite Parenting.  This week, we’ve explored how being polite is a key component in the mutual submission Paul spoke of in our relationships with each other.

Today, we’ll wrap it all up with a brief look at how this civil assent, being polite, MUST mark our lives within the body of Christ … especially in the local church.

I’m not going to dig too deep into this because I am very excited to share with you all that our theme next month on Scripture Dig is “The Church.”  If you don’t already subscribe to Scripture Dig, I encourage you to do it.  Free teaching from some amazing Bible teachers (and me!) every. single. day.  You can get Scripture Dig in your email or your Reader.  Okay, commercial over!

1.  Treat others with humility.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4

Instead of making church or Bible study or ministry about you and what you like, ask God to show you how you can meet the needs of others and how He is using even the music you can’t stand to bless the hearts of others in your church family!! (Wife of a worship leader speaking here.)

2.  Treat others with kindness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

Be nice!  Look people in the eye when they speak to you.  Hold the door open for the new momma struggling with the carrier and diaper bag (Haven’t we all been there?).  Send a note to thank the children’s pastor for loving on the kids in your church – even if you don’t have any.  There are countless ways to extend kindness to people … Make it a point to do it.

3.  Treat others with love.

A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  John 13:34-35

This is the bottom line … Our relationship with Christ is evidenced in our relationships with fellow believers.  LOVE each other!  Even when you disagree … LOVE each other.  Even when you’ve been hurt … LOVE each other.  Even when the apology never comes … LOVE each other.

We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command:  Whoever loves God must also love his brother.  1 John 4:19-21

Sunday’s comin’, y’all!  Get ready … because now that you have read this, I can almost guarantee you will be tested in it!! {Ouch, says the pastor’s wife who hurts people.}   But be faithful … be humble … be kind … be loving.   Be polite!!

Politely,