The writer Paul is attributed in 1 Corinthians 14 as saying: "... be babes as to badness;" [vs 20]It is an election year; the world is becoming more and more difficult to navigate; economic depression is taking its toll and daily we are faced with stressors that truly impair our desire to follow the Biblical quote above. When Jesus mentioned someone who is faithful in least is faithful in most -- it calls to mind the times in our lives when no one is looking or hearing -- and how we behave or manifest our faithfulness in those times. Are we really babes as to badness? Are we still shocked at stuff that is said and done by people in real life, on the television, in the movies, what is written in the books, and yes, even spoken by the Church either via their people or their signs?
I have been thinking lately upon 'civility'. Here is the a little clip from the online thesaurus:
| Definition: | niceness |
| Synonyms: | affability, amenity, comity, compliance, courtesy, decorum, politeness, propriety, respect, tact |
If we look outside ourselves we can raise the eyebrow and point to incidents of the lack of civility in our society and world. Yet, when we look inside ourselves how do we measure up? Are we babes as to badness in our own minds and speech? In our deeds? Do we set the example that may also set the tone in any setting we may be part of?
The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, speaks about how the pack leader has to be 'calm' and assertive. Why? Because that energy is generated to the rest of the pack. When people come together the leader sets the tone as well. Is there chaos? Is their crudeness? Is there respect? When we are taking the lead in being babes as to badness, by default, for the time we are together with others, we are also creating the same circumstances for them. For that time they too are babes as to badness. Many times you hear from people 'I so enjoy myself when I am with you. You make me laugh. You are so great at putting into words what I am thinking.' It is refreshing for people to be with someone who truly emanates a sense of innocence, childlike behavior when it comes to badness. Conversely, when you are in the room with someone who is out of control behaving erratically and who shows no respect or courtesy life becomes a struggle.
When I was growing up my mother used to remind me 'pretty is as pretty does'. You can use the same concept and say 'goodness is as goodness does' and it is an outstanding standard to always achieve to.
Would it not be great if all of a sudden civility would be the bellwether of the future? We cannot expect that. Actually, if we are honest Christians we know with each passing day and the decay of our civilization we are seeing the prophetic fulfillment of statements about how it would be when that time in God's Creation when God would step in, in a very big way, to once again 'reset' the earth. There will be a time when being babes as to badness will be very difficult because everything in our world will be Topsy-turvy and it will be everyone for themselves. But, now, while it is in our control to do so, developing the integrity of being faithful in least and seeing its direct correlation to being 'babes as to badness', we can carve out for ourselves a small space of sanity where we both exude and accept respect -- civility, and know that God's Kingdom WILL COME!
Homework: While showering today, why not think about some way you can be a babe as to badness and exhibit respect, tact and courtesy.
