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I have had a couple of requests lately for a source of today's rules of proper conduct in public. Ie: Church, concert, play, etc. As I began searching on the internet I assumed this would be easy to find, however, I was wrong. There is very little about proper etiquette available today.

Then I began thinking about the rules I was taught as a child, the rules we taught our children, the annoying things that I have witnessed recently, and also the delights of being around well behaved children. I also began talking with other adults, taking my own informal survey about conduct that they witness that either offends, irritates, or conversely pleases them. As a result of those talks I decided to take a written survey that was composed of 25 questions, some pertaining to public situations, some private small groups, others table etiquette, and a couple of general background information questions. Imagine my surprise when I tallied the results and found that some of the things that are the most annoying to me don't bother some other people at all! This caused me to re-think my standards of etiquette.

In the process of my research I found a book titled "You Can Raise a Well-Mannered Child " by Julie Hines Moore, which is published by Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN. Although Mrs. Moore does not quote KJV scripture in her book anyone who prefers the KJV can look the verses up in their own Bible.

Mrs. Moore has done an exceptional job of discussing most areas of etiquette and manners. In her book she breaks conduct down into age appropriateness and also looks at the various basic personality types and how the personality affects the child's ability to learn correct behavior.

There is no point in my attempting to re-write a well-written book; therefore I'm going to only address the areas of respect and public conduct. "Etiquette rules are of the head. Manners are of the heart. Together they are a shield against embarrassment." June Hines Moore. I personally love that quote. Etiquette are the rules of interpersonal conduct just as laws govern all other areas of societal conduct. Manners on the other hand is the heart determination to follow the rules because we recognize their value. We are always more comfortable socially when we know the rules.

Sadly, many Christian people have fallen into the habits and thinking of society as a whole. The idea that I can do what I want whenever I want has spilled out of the "If it Feels Good Do It" and "I'm OK, You're OK" philosophies of several years ago. While many of society's standards have changed, others have not. The President is still referred to deferentially, a judge, a senator, a member of the House of Representatives, a superior officier in the military, a doctor, and usually one's employer is awarded respect by their title, by standing in their presence, by saluting, etc. God's standard of respect...of honour...of courtesy has not changed.

Let's take a look at a few of the common happenings in church today and see if we can make them fit within God's standard.

Honour toward the Lord. It saddens me to see the number of people who never bother to particpate in any congregational activity, who appear bored by the preaching and are focused on their watches. To all intents and purposes, their greatest desire seems to be to get out of the church and be done with their exercise of religion.

Isaiah 37:23 "Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel."

Psalm 29:1-2 "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

John 5:23 " That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy plea sure they are and were created."

Revelation 5:12 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

Respect for the Word of God. To recognize the Bible as having the answers to all of life's questions requires that we actually open the cover and read the words. Yet many people not only never bring a Bible to church with them or don't bother to open the Bible if they have brought it along. I have never seen a church lost and found table that doesn't have several Bibles sitting on it. When a scripture is announced we should turn to it and read the Word of God.

John 1:1&14"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Matthew 24:35 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

2Timothy 3:16-17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

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