Thoughts - 18022010

Life is a game of wits, opinions and points of view. And as is the nature of our world, a day rarely goes by that we do not meet people that see things a different way to how we do. Our natural reaction is to go defensive and try to defend our beliefs and this often creates unnecessary conflict. The case is often that we feel so strongly about what we believe that we give no audience to what anyone else might have to say. But is this the best way to deal with this ever present conflict?

A single-minded arrogance is definitely not the way to deal with the situation. As much as you might think and/or know that you are right, your failure to listen can be highly counterproductive. The greatest leaders that have ever walked this earth have all been great speakers and great listeners. Jesus Christ spoke many great words but the Bible also records Him listening to people and responding to their queries with relevant words that met their needs and we all know how that story goes. At the other end of the leadership spectrum, another leader who understood the power of attending to people’s needs and fear was Adolf Hitler. As much as he has gone down in history as one of the most evil men to ever live, he was able to take the concerns of a section of the German public that feared the Jews would take over and use that as a point of entry into the hearts and minds of his people and we also know how that story ends. Closer to home, the British National Party are fast gaining ground by feeding on legitimate concerns on immigration and the rise of Islam and using that as a platform to propagate their other distasteful messages. We don’t know how that story will end but as long as the major parties seek to push the “we know what’s best for the people” agenda, get ready for more success from the BNP.

In similar fashion, people of faith, especially Christians, need to be very careful with their beliefs and how they choose to pass them on. One of the underlining factors in the rise of Christianity and the early church was the ability of the apostles and early Christians to reason with the people they came across. The Bible records Paul reasoning daily in the halls of Tyrannus where many people came with their various philosophies. Reasoning is defined as the process by which you reach a conclusion after thinking about all the facts and this is something I do not think many Christians pay attention to. Many are too preoccupied with their self righteousness and pride that they are missing the glaring needs and resounding groans of the people. Christians need to cultivate a listening ear if they are to be relevant in our ever changing world. Things are changing at the speed of light and no one can afford to rest on their laurels. The battle is eternal and the enemy is reinventing himself every day. Failure to keep abreast with the world around you will make your Christianity as relevant as ski boots in Miami.

We all need to learn to humble ourselves enough to listen to whatever people have to say, irrespective of whether or not we think they are spewing the vilest rubbish in the history of human speech. This breeds a trust that a speaker knows that whatever they are saying is being heard and will therefore be more likely to reciprocate the listening. It is also in listening that you identify the legitimate concerns of the people and see how what you have to say can address those concerns. Otherwise, the probability missing those concerns and addressing the irrelevant ones

Single-minded arrogance and ignorance are, in my opinion, not too far apart. One doesn’t know and the other doesn’t want to know. Perhaps you can argue that single-minded arrogance is more dangerous as it has very little interest in knowledge.