words had consequence

"Sanctify your ears from the idle talk of them that are the symbols of denial and the exponents of violence and anger." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 72) 

How good and pleasant it is when the people of God live together in unity.—Psalm 133:1

As Christian pastors and leaders with diverse theological and political beliefs, we have come together to make this covenant with each other, and to commend it to the church, faith-based organizations, and individuals, so that together we can contribute to a more civil national discourse. The church in the United States can offer a message of hope and reconciliation to a nation that is deeply divided by political and cultural differences. Too often, however, we have reflected the political divisions of our culture rather than the unity we have in the body of Christ. We come together to urge those who claim the name of Christ to “ put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). (Read the whole thing here)

The Covenant for Civility and similar efforts such as the Charter for Compassion are examples of what the Baha'i Writings describe as the constructive role faith can play in public life:
"Religious teachers should not invade the realm of politics; they should concern themselves with the spiritual education of the people; they should ever give good counsel to men, trying to serve God and human kind; they should endeavour to awaken spiritual aspiration, and strive to enlarge the understanding and knowledge of humanity, to improve morals, and to increase the love for justice." (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 158)


Ultimately, when a bomb goes off it does not discriminate among believers or non-believers, black or white, male or female, Republican or Democrat. We all have a stake in the consequences of what we say to and about each other. I pray more of us will recognize this before it's too late.
As Baha'u'llah has warned, "...the tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century."(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 264)