I don't know who to attribute that quote to, but it's not mine.
I wish it was...
I think that both racial and spiritual conversations, between those who disagree, share the same dangers...
They both often turn into pissing contests and no one wins.
I'm speaking from experience...
Both conversations often tend to die due to the initial approach, long before any meaningful words have a chance to be spoken.
I always thought that dealing with our own heart would be the most difficult part of being a Christian and It is... It really is...
But sometimes the hardest part of dealing with our own heart, is the experience of dealing with someone else's heart, that we don't agree with....
When we're sure that we're right. Positive. Indisputably correct...
And so are they...
Nothing hardens hearts quicker than a peeing contest...
As a Christian, it can be difficult to take part in conversations and be genuinely open to listening to all the different ideas and beliefs without seeming condescending.
To be true to our beliefs and faith, while being open to other points of view is almost impossible. We believe what we believe and we know what we know...
How can we expect someone of different thinking to be open to our ideas, when our very faith makes that impossible for us to legitimately do?!?
This seems to be the very crux of our problem with open dialogues that do not match our inherent Christian values.
So how do we do it?
Pretending is condescending.
Going in with a false pretense is dishonest and introducing actual doubt to our own faith can be spiritual Russian roulette ...
So how do we respect beliefs we feel are wrong?
I have no clue...
Maybe just by being honest.
Maybe by respecting the person across from us and being gentle in these discussions and as open as our beliefs allow...
Being truthful, but genuinely interested in the point of view we disagree with?
Maybe looking for commonalities of heart instead of belief?
Perhaps the first step is trusting each other enough to soften our hearts and speak from that place?
A softened heart is the only kind that tends to change, and just maybe everyone has something to learn in that conversation...
It's possible that how I believe is wrong, even if what I believe isn't...
The one thing I have learned in this limited life cycle of mine, is that in some things, I might be wrong...
It's happened a few thousand times this decade, already..
I do believe what I believe and have faith in what I know ...
But I can love someone who sees things differently and agree to disagree...
With a soft heart and gentleness.
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