God isn't dead, but grace seems to be! I've been harping on grace and calm, rational discussion now for many months. The ugliness of society's rhetoric has taken a dangerous turn recently.
Masks and other things relevant to Covid19 and the resulting difficulties have brought out anger on both sides of the political aisle, but have you seen the video of a masked woman who screams at a young mother with her two young children? She says, "I hope you all die!"
There's actually a movement now that says it's okay to scream at someone who doesn't think like you do, believe like you do. It's directed AT liberals but there are some conservatives who have taken to shouting against the liberal agenda and that's wrong too!
I have shared a bunch of memes I created over on the Art of Eloquence Facebook page that stresses the need for calm and peaceful discussion giving each person respect because it has the highest likelihood of being effective. Nobody wants to agree with someone who is being nasty, condescending, or rude--even if they are so inclined!
"According to Jewish tradition, it was on Tishah B’Av (the ninth of Av) when the people wept over the report of the spies, a lapse of faith so serious that it provoked God to decree that the very generation He redeemed from Egypt would die in the exile of the desert (see Num. 13-14). As Moses later recounted this tragic event, he said something peculiar: “The LORD heard the ‘voice of your words’ (קוֹל דְבַרִים) and was angry...” (Deut. 1:35). The grammar here is unusual, for the text could have simply said, “the LORD heard your words,” but the Torah adds something else, the idea of “emotional tone,” or the manner, the words were spoken... Sometimes it’s not so much what you say that matters, but how you say it. Words of the heart are expressed more by tone, the “voice of the words,” than by the words themselves..."
But the left isn't the only side redefining tolerance because most people these days have the same mentality when it comes to discourse. You can have a conversation with just about anyone and be hard pressed to find someone who will sit and have a calm, rational conversation with you. It has become a battle, a debate, but never a conversation.
The New Definition of Freedom of Speech: I say what I want, how I want, but you can't offend me or even dare to disagree with me!
We live in an age where “speaking your mind” is considered a virtue and hailed as a sign of good leadership. But is this trait something the Bible commends? Should Christians be known for speaking their mind or speaking the truth?
Speaking the truth in grace is essential if you want to be effective in getting that truth across.
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JoJo Tabares
www.ArtofEloquence.com
Christain-based speech communication materials for all ages!
Equipping the Christian Community to speak out
in boldness tempered by grace since 2002!