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Romans 8:28-30
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Lowering the temperature in online conflicts.
Have you ever heard kids quarreling in the back seat of a car? The smallest disagreement becomes the basis for increasingly harsh retaliation. They're just kids, right? But it sure sounds like how adults fight online!
In his refreshing book, The Allure of Gentleness, the philosopher Dallas Willard proposes another way. He writes:
"The means of our communication needs to be gentle, because gentleness also characterizes the subject of our communication. What we are seeking to defend or explain is Jesus himself, who is a gentle, loving shepherd. If we are not gentle in how we present the good news, how will people encounter the gentle and loving Messiah we want to point to?"
I wonder: If our arguments are lacking, perhaps we feel the need to add a forceful presentation?
But if we have a quiet confidence in God, and we've thought deeply about the question we're discussing, then it is easier to remain mild and tender-hearted in our discussion.
Galatians 5:22-24; 2 Timothy 2:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
What are some foolish and ignorant disputes that you want to avoid?
What tempts you to start quarreling?
How does Paul motivate Timothy to remain gentle in his conversations?
Instead of escalating a conflict online, what are some ways you could 'lower the temperature'? How does your culture value (or not value) gentleness?
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