Courtesy in warfare

Chuck Colson wrote, in his Breakpoint feature today, about "Embracing Courtesy." "What," you may ask, "does courtesy have to do with spiritual warfare? This is war!"

Remember, Soldier, when I wrote about the fact that the battlefield of this spiritual warfare is the human mind? Colson makes the point in his article that "today's political correctness has become a sort of secular alternative to the old Christian virtue of courtesy." But there is a difference between courtesy and political correctness, for, as Colson writes, "The virtue of courtesy is rooted in the idea of the imago Dei, the concept that each of us was created in the image of a loving God."

Political correctness, on the other hand is rooted in Marxism, which seeks to foment class warfare. It is Marxist theory applied to social engineering instead of economics. In essence, political correctness says (my apologies to Orwell), "All men are created equal, but some men are more equal than others." That is, "If you don't believe as I do, you don't deserve the freedom to express what you do believe."

When we view the world with a Christian world view, we see others as Paul did when he wrote to the church in Philippi,

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:3-8)

Courtesy is not taking sides. That is the nature of political correctness. Courtesy is recognizing each human being as imago Dei and esteeming him for the intrinsic value that status imparts. Political discourse in this country has devolved from the level described in the immortal words, often attributed to Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Civility in the political arena has all but disappeared, largely because, in a post-Christian world, people see those who have different opinions as creatures inferior to themselves and deserving extermination, not courtesy. But you, Soldier, living in the Spirit, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above [yourself], not looking to your own interests but...to the interests of the others."

The Bible exhorts us saints to "be holy," be "set apart for God." We are set apart when we view the world from Christ's perspective, seeing each human being as imago Dei. Courtesy is one way we reflect that holiness. When we are walking in the Spirit, our whole lives will reflect God's holiness. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."