Make Up Your Own Mind
Confession time: I have a pet peeve. (Alright, I probably have a lot of them, but for now I'm just talking about this one.)
I am greatly annoyed when people, especially Christians, attack and dismiss an author and/or book based on the opinion of someone else. Never pausing to actually read the book and form their own opinion. (By the same token, if you have read it you are certainly entitled to your opinion!)
And mostly this irritates me because I'm guilty of it.
What's that saying? "The things which irritate you most about someone else are usually the very things that you do." I resemble that statement. I am my own pet peeve. But I'm trying to change.
It's so easy, and occasionally satisfying, to jump on the bandwagon. To join the critical crowd without taking time to investigate their claims.
But I'm discovering that it's rare, even in the worst books, to find nothing worth reflecting on, even if it's just to gain insight into the mind of someone who doesn't think like you.I was challenged by these words in Ecclesiastes 7:18 (The Message):
"It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it."
How often do I only want to deal with one side of an issue--the side I agree with--and pretend like the other side doesn't exist. Oh, yes. That's usually my preferred method of operation. Ignore, ignore, ignore--and hope the issue goes away. But I'm learning that we are called to engage with the world around us and not ignore the things that are within our power to address. Even hot button issues like: immigration, racial inequality, refugees, and global poverty to name just a few.
One of the best ways to prepare to address a topic is to read widely--and to read with a sharp, discerning, and thoughtful mind. And not just the words of people with whom you agree!
We should prepare to engage on these topics, not just jump into the dialogue without any real education or knowledge of differing opinions. That's not only unwise, it's harmful to our reputation as followers of Jesus. May we be known as people who seek to understand--even if we don't agree! This is a powerful quote from J. Oswald Sanders' book, Spiritual Leadership, where he quotes Muriel Ormrod:
It is better that we should always tackle something a bit beyond us. We should always aim to read something different--not only the writers with whom we agree, but those with whom we are ready to do battle. And let us not condemn them out of hand because they do not agree with us; their point of view challenges us to examine the truth and to test their views against Scripture. And let us not comment on nor criticize writers of whom we have heard only second-hand, or third-hand, without troubling to read their works for ourselves...Don't be afraid of new ideas--and don't be carried away with them either.
This has been a recurring theme in my life recently, so I thought I'd share it with you in light of all that's happening in our country and the world. Not only in the books we read, but in the conversations that we have, let's educate ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in wisdom as we form our opinions and share them with others. May all we say and do be guided by love!
~Gut-Check and Action Steps~
Do you make an effort to understand all sides of an issue? Or do you generally stick to your own side?
Are you ever tempted to weigh in on a topic without first contemplating a differing perspective?
Are you able to see people over issues?