Civil conversation is on the endangered list in our culture; it’s perilously close to extinction. There are those who refuse to discuss issues, choosing to remain comfortably numb: in their apathetic or fearful silence they are complicit in the difficulties and/or evils of society. Others are arrogant and see interaction as competitive with the goal of crushing the opposition and manifesting their own superiority and agendas: in “fighting monsters they become a monster.” The former is afraid of giving offense; the latter receive morbid satisfaction in giving offense or in being offended. As Christ-followers we must seek the wisdom of the Spirit and discipline ourselves in crafting our conversations to engage the issues, encourage others, and expand the kingdom of God.
Philippians 4: 4-5 “Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!”
In the next post we will mention several Biblical issues that cry out for discussion within the Christian community; these exploratory conversations are known as “binding and loosing,” Mt 18:18. In the 3rd post, we will explore how we may interject our thoughts on present cultural issues.