1a: civilized conduct
especially : courtesy, politeness
bemoaned the decline of civility in our politics
b: a polite act or expression
lacked the little civilities and hypocrisies of political society—Roy Jenkins
The men briefly exchanged civilities before the meeting began.
2archaic : training in the humanities
Our culture has drifted a long way from the days of Civility, when it seems that we could have open and honest conversations, without resorting to name-calling and threats. I believe that this “level of civility” is cyclical. I believe that we have, as a culture and as a planet, moved in and out of periods of Civility.
I am a Lutheran Pastor, and I have read many of the writings of Martin Luther and the actors of his day, including Popes, Princes, and Emperors. These days were not days of civility. Even throughout our 250-year history as a nation, we have moved in and out of civility. So what has made this period of time worse than other cycles? Anonymity
We can blow our horn on Social media and hide behind a keyboard and a mouse. Sometimes, we can even post under a fake name or without one at all. With this newfound freedom and anonymity, we have learned to weaponize our words. This is what has led to such overt violence, even the assassination of Charlie Kirk just yesterday.
Not only do we have our uncivil words, but we couple them with others who are like-minded and toss them like a grenade in the camp of those who share separate ideas and opinions. We have been led by algorithms that we can’t see to those who mirror our thought patterns and our sense of outrage. Before long, we are deep in an echo chamber where we can not, and do not want to hear the voice of anyone else.
This, my friends, is what has led to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to the recent school shootings, and to a scourge of violence that is only gaining momentum in our culture today. But this is not something that should catch us by surprise. These last weeks are not the first time this has happened. Our own leaders, including our president, have engaged in this very uncivil word-tossing.
Whether you agree with President Trump or Charlie Kirk is not the issue here. It is the out-of-control nature of our words. We live in an age where words travel faster than ever before. A single post, comment, or soundbite can circle the globe in seconds—bringing encouragement and truth, or unleashing division and destruction. In our cultural moment, words are often weaponized: sharpened to wound, aimed to humiliate, and fired without thought for the collateral damage.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, Solomon, and many other Biblical voices have been warning us about this.
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:5-6
James does not mince any words here about the powerful evil our tongue can ignite in our world. In our ever-expanding digital world, that “spark” might be a tweet, a comment thread, or a whispered rumor. Once released, it spreads—often faster than truth can catch up.
Solomon, in his great book on Wisdom, Proverbs, began the drumbeat that James carried into the young church.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:21
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13
Jesus reminds us that our speech is not just bad behavior - it’s a problem of the heart.
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37
So our words, Jesus says, are not just throwaway lines. They are evidence of what is inside us, and God takes the affairs of our hearts seriously.
We are also in Scripture given a better way:
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15
Let your conversation be always full of grace (Colossians 4:6
Encourage and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
If we want to weaponize our words, let’s use them not to hurt or to harm, but as God intended them to be weaponized, in Prayer.
Let’s pray for the family of Charlie Kirk, for his wife Erika, and their two young children. Let us pray for the many who on this day, 24 short years ago, had their world ripped apart when ideology shaped by words of hatred and murder led to the 9/11 attack on our soil.
Let us pray for those who are today more committed to the left or the right and call them to a heart of civility and love. Let’s pray that we would not launch any word bombs into cyberspace, but let the peace of Christ rule our hearts and minds.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:13-15 (NIV)
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Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
<><Pastor Craig