Wednesday, March 8, 2017
How to dialogue in a polarized society
We live in a world today that is divided more then I can remember. There are some who think the world is going to end and others who think our best days are ahead of us. If you are very religious it is difficult to talk to someone who thinks you are anti-science, anti-rational thought and a bit odd if you believe in a literal creation. There are some who think the election of Trump is the beginning of restoring our country while others see no hope while he is in office. When I view things online and on facebook there are two sides of the truth and facts. There are perceptions based upon the fake news and a growing polarization on what people are thinking. If you are fairly normal you have friends and family members who view life very different then you do. How can you have a good dialogue with people who are on the opposite side of the many issues of life? I have been thinking about this for several weeks now and here are a couple of my ideas. First, as a believer is Jesus Christ I am going to keep my main focus on the main thing which is my relationship with Jesus Christ. A follow up thought is how can I help others in their relationship with Jesus. I am a Christian who is also an American. My faith ought to guide and help me to have a balance view of being a citizen of Heaven and of America. Second, the world does not revolve around who is the President of the United States. I do not want to minimize the importance of the presidency but who is president is not nearly as important as to who is Lord of your life. President Trump is my president and I have committed to pray for him. Jesus is Lord of my life and I have committed to follow Him. I hope you see the difference. Third, to have a good dialogue one must begin to discuss the real issue in a rational manner and not just respond with their emotions. Emotions are powerful but they can mislead a person when there is a lack of knowledge and understanding when aligned with an unhealthy fear. To do this it can be helpful to step back for a season and think through some issues before you respond. This is also healthy to do for any relationships so that you are addressing the issues of life rather then just attacking the person. A lot more can be said but this blog is long now. May God help us to enter a season of healthy dialogue and stop attacking one another.
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