End of Civility and Christianity?

I thought I would share something I just read in Best Practices, a newsletter for pastors: “Pastor Jared Wright went to hear Ted Wilson, (president of the General Conference) speak in Redlands, CA last week. Afterward, Pastor Jared approached a man who'd asked Wilson a question during the Q&A that Jared wanted to clarify. He introduced himself and told the man he was writing an article for Spectrum magazine. At the word "Spectrum" the man went into a rage, and after threatening to take him outside and beat him up, settled for punching him in the mouth - right in the church sanctuary…
“Perhaps I’m nostalgic, but it seems to me that our capacity for courteous discourse has diminished. We seem less able to disagree without being disagreeable. And is it any wonder? Sometime said to me recently that the church follows the culture, and we're all aware that respect and civility are hard to find in public conversations… So should we be surprised that the rhetoric of violence - not to mention actual violence - filters into the church, too?” (Loren Seibold, Editor, Best Practices)
Not only that, but as I looked at different responses to this altercation on Facebook, I discovered that many “liberals” who were outraged by the violence would be very happy to see the perpetrator receive equal through arrest or law suit. Is that any better? Does joining a “conservative” or “liberal” mindset ensure that one will be Christlike? No! Only Christ within can assure Christlikeness.

Those whose goal is to purify the church from sinful people, philosophies, and permissive practices as well as those who want to silence the above mentioned people, should never resort to violent measures. “Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1Corinthians 13:5) “Do not repay evil for evil.” (Romans 12:17) “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) In their zeal defending the church from such influence, they forget that people are more important then a perceived church health. In God’s eyes people are of infinite worth, those who are led astray and those who lead us astray. Jesus gave His life for all. Just ask the question, can you see Jesus punching someone in the face for speaking out…for any reason? Not the Jesus I see in Scripture.