The two documents share many of the same guidelines, such as taking the lower seat, letting others speak of your prominence, and associating with good people.

However, I am more impressed that both focus on the importance of speech. Most of the “Rules” and “Proverbs” deal with how we speak to one another.

Both recognize that our humanity depends on our use of language. Much of being civil involves using words properly.

The very first chapter in our Bible pictures speaking things into existence. It acknowledges that every word we speak creates something new in the world.

Our words reveal who we are. You do not know what I am thinking until I put my thoughts into words. I’m never quite sure where you are until you express yourself in words. The pursuit of truth involves a conversation in which we share our thoughts. And of course, the art of deception corrupts this basic human interaction.

Proverbs 25:11-15 puts it well. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear. Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest are faithful messengers to those who send them; they refresh the spirit of their masters. Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of a gift never given. With patience, a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones.”

Words do far more than give life to objects and convey information. They bring order to chaos and create relationships. Say “I love you,” “I’ll care for you,” or “I’ll sacrifice for you,” and things are never the same.

In many ways, all education is learning our ABCs. We teach people the social skills to use words in different areas of life. As both the “Rules” and “Proverbs” maintain, true success unites people and seeks truth.

Without words, we are animals operating on survival of the strongest. Raw power determines everything. Much of our public conversation lately has been a return to this kind of barbarianism. It uses words as weapons to divide people, destroy opponents, and hide the truth. Our humanity and our faith call for a return to civility.

Number 1 is “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.” Number 110, “Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.”

The document applies these to all sorts of situations and circumstances such as business and recreation, meals and other social gatherings. Many rules are very simple such as not eating with your mouth full or interrupting when others speak.

As I implied previously, I was drawn to study them for two reasons. The first was awareness of how many are being broken in our public life today.

• Number 47: ‘Mock not nor jest at any thing of importance.”
• Number 49: “Use no reproachful language against anyone, neither curse nor revile.”
• Number 21: “Reproach none for the infirmities of nature, nor delight to put them that have in mind thereof.”
• Number 22: “Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he were your enemy.”
• Number 73: “Think before you speak, pronounce not imperfectly nor bring out your words too hastily, but orderly & distinctly.”
• Number 41: “Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself professes; it savors of arrogance.”

Donald Trump blatantly breaks these constantly, and his followers cheer when he does.

The second reason I was attracted was the rules originated with Jesuit monks. Most people believe religion motivates civility. Many of the rules advocate the humility befitting God’s people. You don’t pretend to be better than others. You take the lower seat at feasts. You work on yourself before you criticize others. You avoid self- deception. You maintain integrity.

In fact, many could be regarded as interpretations of the Ten Commandments. Number 108: ‘When you speak of god or his attributes, let it be seriously & with reverence. Honor & obey your natural parents although they are poor.” Others counsel not bearing false witness against your neighbors or coveting what they have.

If you want to read all the rules yourself, they can be found here:

I come away thinking the loss of civility in public affairs is a religious matter. Christians s should be doing all they can to restore decency. I hope to offer some suggestions on how to do that in the next few weeks.

Apparently, our first president wrote this down when he was a teenager, perhaps simply as an exercise in penmanship. Many think it signifies the standards he maintained throughout his life, as he epitomized the respect for others emphasized in the rules.

My first reaction was a smile, but it was quickly followed by recognition that we have lost much of this civility in our present society. Donald Trump violates these rules almost every time he speaks. Many others see such concerns as a form of political correctness that oppresses their individuality.

When I delved more into the background, I found the 110 rules were originally published by French Jesuits in 1590. That led me to ask why monks felt it was their responsibility to promote such rules. Is there some tie between civility and religion?

Surely, the Benedictine Rule, the foundation of the monastic order, has a lot to say about community etiquette. It provides instructions for welcoming guests, arriving on time for meals, and considering the views of all members.

It makes sense that the Jesuits would transform these rules for the secular society they served. Their missionary work utilized spiritual exercises to foster the formation of good habits. They obviously thought being civil involved a civilized community rather than a polite society. Living properly in relationship with other people was regarded as a religious as well as a social duty. Christian care began with respect for all people in every situation.

Sadly, the radical individualism of our time promotes getting what we each want. “Me first” and “America First” value the skills and power to make deals that benefit oneself. Showing courtesy and respect is no longer valued when care for others is lost.

As we all know, this has created deep divisions and terrible conflicts, causing all sorts of pain. Restoring a unity that works toward a common good surely begins with being civil with all people. I want to examine what that means in the coming weeks, using Washington’s Rules as a guide.

What started out as an examination of current events always developed into a recognition of our checkered past. For instance, once you start exploring our present abuse of immigrants, you soon become aware of the ups and downs in treatment throughout our history. We passed laws that terribly mistreated immigrants, rescinded them, and then passed another batch of bad ones. Trump just takes it to another level of vulgarity and blatant self-serving demonization.

I also found that all the current issues could be found in some layer of our biblical tradition. For instance, the foundation story of the Jewish nation is built on the lack of hospitality when Israel migrated to Egypt during a famine. God delivers his people when the Pharaoh enslaves them. Remembering how they were treated, Jews are to take care of immigrants.

The series also reinforced my belief that we live in a critical period. The perennial problems have become more threatening with the power of modern technology. For instance, we are faced with a tremendous migration of people as global climate change destroys fertile land and autocratic rulers use genocide to perpetuate their power. Immigrants are primarily people trying to escape suffering, and God calls us to care for them.

Rethinking these issues highlighted the Church’s responsibility to speak for God. Her leaders have certainly done well in immigration. The pope and the leaders of most traditional denominations have directly challenged the president. Bishop Budde did this very publicly during the inauguration. Many local congregations have discussed becoming sanctuaries for immigrants with temporary resident status. It is the one political issue most of the traditional church feels comfortable addressing.

Writing the series also raised questions about the nation-state’s ability to handle these issues. Practicing American exceptionalism will not resolve global problems. Besides that, placing America First hardly speaks for the good of all people.

This is exactly the opposite of Jesus’ intention when he said the first step in following him is to repent and believe the Gospel. He was calling for a rethink of worldly values, replacing them with God’s ways.

The prosperity gospel preachers have an entirely different understanding of repentance. Every time I hear them speak, I am reminded of the old televangelists. The message is essentially the same.

Many, many years ago, a sociologist and I did an in-depth study of these “preachers” when they filled the airways 24-7. They presented repentance as a transaction in which an individual asks God to forgive his sins in exchange for eternal life. This bestows a place in heaven after he dies and a prosperous life with good health, a good family, and good finances in the meantime.

After watching what seemed like countless programs by far too many preachers, we found they all used the same format repeatedly.

Every one of them claimed to be Bible believers over against the traditional church. However, they all used only a few Bible passages.

They often talked about the Genesis creation stories to illustrate their fundamentalism. They always cited passages promising God’s forgiveness if sins were confessed.

Even more significantly, they focused on the few passages in which Jesus promised that if two or three believers agreed on anything, he would grant it. The televangelist presented himself as the second required person, guaranteeing that the viewer’s request would be fulfilled. The unspoken assumption was that if it was not granted, it was due to your lack of faith.

And again significantly, they brought up passages that promised if you gave to others, God would reward you 100 times over. This, of course, was used as motivation to send money to the evangelist’s program.

That was literally it. I don’t mean that these were the dominant Bible passages. These were the only ones.

This is essentially the same message used by the prosperity gospel preachers, and I fear what we’re going to hear during our nation’s anniversary. The focus will be on God blessing the citizens of this nation and enabling Donald Trump to do so in our time. The president will share the role of the televangelist and prosperity gospel preacher.

We have to be aware of what is happening and prepared to evaluate it in light of the complete Gospel message.