Mouw, civility

Mouw, Richard J. “Uncommon Decency:  Christian civility in an uncivil world.”

Downers Grove, ILL: InterVarsity Press, 1992

Especially in the light of recent political (and in the US Tea Party and Christian Fundamentalist war-like behavior), I would wish this book in the hands of every HTAC member. (Alas, it is out of print.)

Richard Mouw is President of Fuller Theological Seminary in California, and author of many books, some academic. In this slim volume and in plain language he tackles the life of a Christian in a culture not all that civil anymore. He lauds the importance of civil attitudes, not just a set of behavours, but behaviours welling up out of a deep commitments. That the love of God never ceases. That we ought to follow Jesus in meeting all human beings with respect, patience and a willingness to listen. That we human beings don’t need to win.

He tackles pluralism, amongst others, the challenge of other religions on our street, but also has wise things to say about the limits of civility, when our patience and non-judgmental stance threats would have us slide into wishy-washiness and even indifference.

Citing another writer, he observes that perhaps the revelation that human beings are created in the image of God should not be interpreted in such an individual sense as we often do. Maybe the whole of humanity is reflective of God. Given that, he observes that,

“God cares deeply about cultural diversity. This means that Christians need not be threatened by cultural differences as such. These differences are to be sanctified, not eradicated…To cultivate that spirit of affirmation is crucial to our growth in civility.” (79).

Sprinkled throughout the book are many stories, Mouw’s encounters with a wide variety of other people, Christians and non-Christians, even atheist. He demonstrates both how we might deal with similar encounters, but also owns up to not always having done it right himself. It makes the book a talk from a sympathetic friend.

Once again, highly recommended.