Occasionally one hears the complimentary statement, “He is a Christian and a gentleman.” The expression throws a shadow across our modern brand of Christianity.
The implication is that a Christian is not necessarily a gentle person. In all likelihood all of us could relate a case or two to bear out the point.
Most of us have to work for years to wear off some of the rough edges of our lives. To some degree we all struggle continually with the right of human flesh. But isn’t it a mark of human decency, as well as Christianity, to be improving in courtesy and kindness toward our fellow men?
We need courtesy in our speech. We often neglect to say “please” and “thank you.”
One of my favorite poems goes like this:
Hearts, like doors, can open with ease
To very, very little keys.
And don’t forget that they are these:
“Thank you, sir” and “If you please.”
We also need courtesy in our actions. Chivalry ought not to be dead. It is as appropriate and needful today as ever. The Bible, instructing us in social conduct, says, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). Let everyone who is a Christian heed this command, “Be ye courteous.” Let us put others first. Let us treat others as we would be treated. Let us be courteous, for this is Christianity in action.