June 13, 2007
“Civic Virtue"
Dear Friend,
I believe we all desire for our country to be both powerful and noble. We hope that America will be a force for good in the world. But, for America to be noble, we must be noble citizens. Our country will never be any better than we are. The idea of being noble citizens is called “civic virtue.”
I suggest three qualities to help you think about civic virtue:
- Respect for the law
- Respect for our fellow citizens
- A duel commitment to do right and to help others
Because I am also a Christian, I hold myself to more than civic virtue. I aspire to a Christian civic virtue. This means I live by the ideas of Jesus Christ, as I participate as a citizen in the United States of America. To the three concepts of civic virtue I add a thought from the apostle Paul in Romans 12:10:
“Outdo one another in showing honor.”
My sense of Christian civic virtue requires me to honor God, my fellow citizens and elected representatives. This does not mean that I always agree, compromise or capitulate. It does mean that when I debate, disagree or even protest, I do it in an honorable and legal way. The apostle Paul also advised in Romans 12:16:
“Do not be haughty… never be conceited.”
Christian civic virtue requires civil discourse. It rejects factional arrogance and party conceit.
We make a better country by being better citizens.
Doc
Dr. Dave Collings
Lead Pastor
Christ Church
