Christian Manners and Etiquette Revived 

              Ok Facebook followers, after quite a few months of observation I have researched what it means to be a Christian with Manners and Etiquette.  I feel it is ever so important to respectfully share my research.  So many of us are so wrapped up in our own lives we miss the very behavior that shows others what it means to be Christian.  More so we need to share these behaviors with others.  Who knows maybe we will start to show the love we have for each other as brothers and Sisters in Christ and others will see and follow.  Every week I am committing myself to a Manner that needs to be spotlighted.

                  First and foremost respect of others must be at the heart of what drives our Manners and Etiquette.  How are we to show kindness or Gentleness if we do not respect.  Inclusion is the focus for this post.  Inclusion by Webster is defined as the act of including or the state of being included.  So as a Christian what does this look like?  Paul clearly laid out an expectation for us followers “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)  So, well we are all in this together regardless of any differences.  We must consider our brothers and Sisters in Christ in everything we do together.  Clicks are not ok.  Why is Inclusiveness a manner you ask?  People need to feel Valued and a part of a social group.  When you exclude someone, for whatever reason makes you feel better about your behavior, you send a clear message.  “You are not worth my time and energy and or I am better than you.” So if you look at someone and are displeased with their appearance or behavior you have to ask yourself, “Is this going against Christian teachings?” Can of worms I know. 

                     But wait the bible warns against Judgment.  Romans 2 Breaks this down so well.  “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” So again how does this have to do with inclusion you ask?  Ask you self, “Why do I have the friends I do?”  Most social groups develop from small pockets of friends.  But you have outliers or outcasts.  People who don’t meet the social standard that even, yes even Christians have.  Nine times out of ten those expectations and judgments are not following Christ’s teachings and are based in superficial, socially constructed bias.  And so we send the world yet another message and example of how hypocritical we can be, and they don’t have the understanding of God’s grace and love.  So in closing, every time you get together with your group of friends, whether you are a click or not, invite those social outliers.  You can learn so much from them, maybe even show the world the truth and love of Christ through your behavior.  Love those social outliers, for they brave to be different. Don’t be scared of change or deft  and blind to others.  Manners are so important.