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How we view the other side |
Why do we spend so much time trying to convince others of
the rightness of our position?
Why do we spend so much time trying to convince others of
the wrongness of their position?
Yes, that is the same question from two perspectives.
Hopefully, you get the point.
Why do political conservatives spend their energy trying
to show the wrong-headed notions of the liberal? Why do the liberals spend
their energy trying to show the same about conservatives?
I’ve been watching this for years now, and with the
ubiquity of Facebook, I now have a new lens through which to view the action
much more closely.
What I have observed over the course of the last 10 years
is that nothing has changed—at least as far as the point I am making.
We’ve gone through the end of the Bush era and are
finishing up the Obama era. The former a conservative, the latter a liberal.
Their proponents and opponents have essentially remained
unchanged.
To be sure, there are some—not a significant majority,
mind you—who are saddened with the results of Mr. Obama. But, they have not
flopped over to the conservative ranks as a result.
How many of you have been persuaded by the rhetoric of
the opposite side? Please raise your hand.
I’m waiting.
I thought so.
Please allow me to bring this closer to the home in which
I dwell.
Why do Christians spend so much of their energy trying to
convince others of their wrong-headed beliefs?
For one thing, you have precious little biblical support
for such an activity.
Are you without sin? Then feel free to cast your stones. (Jn. 8:7)
Have you removed that which blocks your clear vision?
Then feel free to try to help others see. (Matt. 7:5)
Until then, though, you had best be working on yourself
rather than on others. (Matt. 5:48)
I have a few atheists on my “friends” list on Facebook,
along with a couple of deists and plenty of Christians of all stripes, colors,
and flavors.
One of the atheists posted something that quite offended
me at first.
As I prayed about a response to this sort of nonsense, I was reminded of Paul’s statement in Romans 8:7—“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
I
have often decried the practical atheism rampant within the church. This gave
me an opportunity to either join with the Christian practical atheists, or to
abide by the Word.
I
chose the latter.
Did
I choose correctly?
There
are many who would disagree with me. There are others who would applaud me.
I
care not for either.
I
am still trying, after all these years to fulfill Eph 5:10—“trying to learn what
is pleasing to the Lord.”
Putting the Word into a context in which I can apply it on a
regular daily basis has been paramount for me since the beginning of my walk with
the Lord. I have probably missed it more than I have nailed it, but that doesn’t
stop me from desiring “the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:14)
Why do we put so much energy into trying to persuade others
of our position?
Could it be that we are not secure in ours, and that we need
to have others join us so that we not walk alone?
While that is certainly a possibility, it is probably not a
conscious one.
Maybe even the probability is far removed from reality.
I think it is more the result of bad teaching—or the lack
thereof.
When we try to correct someone’s thinking, we are essentially
attacking their position, regardless of how polite we are in doing so.
An attack, by its nature, engenders a response—fight or
flight.
To try to correct someone’s thinking is counter-productive
at best.
They are forced to defend their position. Defense, by its
nature is a strengthening maneuver.
Your attack has caused them to strengthen their position.
Is that what you wanted?
Probably not.
What, then, is the answer?
First of all, there is no way I can be so glib as to give a “one-size-fits-all”
response. Every situation is different, and there are some who read my thoughts
only to pose an exception.
I will state it this way—I don’t imagine that an attack feels
like love to the one being attacked.
Among all the characteristics of love listed in the Love
Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, I cannot find a single one that could be applied
nor twisted to mean “go on the offense against wrong-headed notions.”
In fact, Peter tells us the opposite is true—“Have fervent
love among yourselves, for love shall cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8)
Many will quote Jude 1:3—“… that
ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints” as proof that we should do exactly what I am speaking against.
However, I encourage you to read the entire epistle
before making that judgement. (It’s only 25 verses, so it shouldn’t take you
too long.)
You will notice that no strategy is given for contending
for the faith other than reminding his readers that the Lord would come to “execute
judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their
ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches
which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:15)
The fact of the matter is that his exhortation to “contend
for the faith” is not about waging war against others, but fighting for
yourself that you don’t be deceived into following them into the abyss of
deception. (2 Cor. 10:5)
(Read it again if you can't see that.)
(Read it again if you can't see that.)
Beloved, let me urge you to give up trying to convince
others of their misguided notions.
Instead, make sure that all your notions can stand within
the spotlight of scripture, and that you will be able to stand before the Lord “without
spot or wrinkle.” (Eph. 5:27)
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