Have you noticed? ... good manners, in today's society, have been relegated to the YUK category. Good manners, today are about as popular as beets, liver, castor oil, good morals, sexless movies and T.V. sitcoms, and "elevator music" -- a few people like them, but most don't. In the preceding generation or so, we have promoted and committed ourselves to the selfish philosophy of Me-ism. Me-ism and good manners (born of respect and consideration for "the other fella") are about as compatible as oil and water.
The charge just made is not a product of guess work, the signs of the times scream of that fact. By way of example, instead of men and young men opening doors for ladies and displaying other good manners toward them, we have decided it's good enough to treat them like one of "the good ol' boys". Many of the "baby boomers" and the younger generation act as if they have graduated from college with a degree in "RUDE". Many of our older folk have assumed the right to trample on the feelings of others in the name of "telling it like it is." It seems homes no longer teach the children of those homes good manners, for they (the children) are loud and boisterous, attention getters; they run roughshod over the rights and the property of others. They are likely to barge ahead of older folk so they can be first in line. They "talk back" to their parents and other adults. Often we adults talk and are inattentive when we should be listening. We "boo" when we should be showing respect and appreciation. We habitually arrive late for anything and everything (except work, school. and our pleasure outings). We emphasize the big "I" --- and so on and so on.
One Edward Sanford Martin advised his son on good manners as the younger Martin set out for his freshman year in college. He said, "self-respect is at the bottom of all good manners. They are expressions of discipline, of good-will, or respect for others' rights and comfort and feelings" (A FATHER TO HIS FRESHMAN SON). So well expressed Mr. Martin. Being well-mannered is an eloquent expression of noble character. Noble character should be demonstrated by corporation President and janitor, alike; by all children; every parent; all students; store clerks; athletes; office workers; all bosses; every employee; young and old; etc. Certainly Christians should be well-mannered and should teach such to their children and insist that they practice them to the point that they become habitual.
Good manners are the result of Matthew 7:12 being taught and applied in the conduct of our relationships with others. That passage, known by all, reads --- "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so them; ..."
If the world today needs anything, it needs a populace that is concerned about the rights, the comfort, and the feelings of others. Ill-mannered folk are a "dine a dozen", but the couth, the well-mannered are becoming a rare breed, almost to the point of being placed on the endangered species list. No one can be well-mannered who is not selflessly concerned about others. Heaven's philosophy of good manners is best summed up in the words of the Apostle Paul, recorded in Philippians 2:3 -- "...in lowliness of mind let each esteem the otehr better than themselves."