In our culture today everyone is in a hurry and impatient.
We as Christians have been so indoctrinated with this hurry disease that we do not want to take time to study God's Holy Word. We say we do but in reality we don't and Christ knows this about us. He knows we are shallow and unprepared to talk about Him or his word and work in our world.
One thing the pandemic has allowed is for many to slow down and reassess their lives and the world around them.
If you live on social media your attention span is short and shallow, nothing of depth or real substance. Deep study requires patience and time committed to reading and study and prayer!
If we are focused on Christ (as we claim) we are immersed in his word and we talk with him frequently. He is after all a person and not some abstract thought.
We abide in Him!
Abiding means we over time become intimate with Him, the Person of the Holy Spirit and we think in terms of HIM and his Gospel.
So are you confident enough to say in a crowd or a group you are a Christian? Can you articulate why?
Always begin with calm words that allow charitable judgment, this will start the conversation in a relaxed manner. Be consistent with Christ’s Golden Rule as you want others to assume your innocence and objectivity, so do the same to them.
Exert self- control on your emotions. Emotions are the most common thing that ignites the fuse that dynamites our conversations. Emotions are not a bad thing (as they are given by God) yet raw, unchecked emotion in a difficult conversation will get you nowhere.
Today people are angry about a lot of things and probably not in a rational way but in an emotional way, therefore avoid harsh, judgmental language or attitudes. Learn to use gracious, non-combative words.
Proverbs 12;18
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Do not underreact nor overreact. If you underreact may you may imply compromise, thereby avoiding a necessary but difficult confrontation, or we’re treating the issues being discussed as trivial. If we overreact we risk relational fractures, sinful anger, or worse. One is a sin of omission (passive), the other is a sin of commission(aggressive).
Both reveal our sin and lead us into further sin.
Followers of Christ are called to do all things to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Learn to ask the Lord to give you a healthy, biblical balance in the way you talk to others, and then seek his help to deal with difficult conversations in a Christlike manner of grace, truth, and love.
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