Common Courtesy

Lately, I've been contemplating the responsibilities of Christians and of Christ's Church. It has been brought to my attention that these responsibilities are viewed and defined very differently in the body of Christ, although we are, truly, all one being. It is so easy to pick on ourselves, but do we realize how horribly this confuses the watching world?

Christians sometimes fall into viewing themselves as some club or organization, thinking that everyone will want to be a part. This is a great idea to start, when done correctly. However, when that club/organization is picking itself and it's members apart and begins to form clubs/cliques inside of the larger body, the world watches chaos and contempt, not peace.

Where has common courtesy gone? Sometimes in this "rush to get what I want" world, gentleness, patience, love, kindness, humility, and servanthood are simply side-items of the menu... in an "add on when you can afford it" mentality. I wonder, does God ever want to ask His children, "Where are your manners?!"

The church is supposed to be the people who go the extra mile for other individuals, to see needs before they are brought up in conversation, and to stoop to the lowly and help them with a smile. When was the last time you (or I) volunteered? No, not at a soup kitchen. That's not what I'm talking about. Yes, that will be another very important blog, but not this one. I mean, volunteered to simply be a friend. "Oh, let me get that door for you." "Here, you can have the last of the M&Ms." "I'll pick up the milk on the way home." Yeah. That.

Manners. Simply the golden rule. What would you just love for that person to say to you? ... Say it to them. What would brighten your day if someone did it for you?.... Do that for them. Common courtesy. There's a big world out there, and it's watching you.