Civility
A person of faith…must avoid crude humor, selfish anger, discourtesy, and any action that blatantly disregards the norms of common civility. (William Wilberforce, 18th-19th century English statesman)
Wilberforce’s efforts to restore civility were painful and arduous but eventually were fruitful. We could certainly use another champion like him today. Today’s conversations are often cruel and hateful—sometimes even violent. Unfortunately, it is often people with religious fervor who have lost the self-control that would make their point of view more readily acceptable.
Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech (1 Peter 3:10).