“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.“ (James 1:19)

Name calling, venting, sound-biting, and Bulverizism (Bulverism is a name for a logical fallacy that “assumes that your opponent is wrong, and explain his error”). Today in politics and regular discussion, silly dialogue is the name of the game. Do you really want your President talking about the size of his hands (and other parts)  in a national debate? It is a cesspool time in American politics.

Even our preaching in church has fallen prey to consumer-driven dialogue. It seems Christian audiences around our country rarely listen to whole arguments in order to try to gain insight and understand the speaker’s real intent; but rather people are looking to feel something good, and even worse than that, we want to be offended. Who cares about the point of the discussion, it is the journey that matters.

Social media has become nothing more than an emotional blabber-fest, we are not wanting to get anywhere, we just want to have our voice heard. We have become a society of Proverbs 18:2 kinds of people, “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinion.” 

Today I want my point to be simple, it is a Saturday after all and people don’t like to think too deeply on the weekend. Three pieces of advice:

1. Do your Utmost to Understand (Prov. 18:13) – I once heard that as a Christian, we are even to love others in our conversations. The best way to do this is to listen so well you understand the speaker’s argument so well you can explain it better than they did. We are fish story people. Instead of letting someone enjoy their story, we are thinking of ways to top it before they ever finish. Let them finish, and let them know they are loved in the way you listen.
2. Don’t Assume a Person is an Idiot before they Open Up their Mouth (Philippians 2:3) – This is what Bulverism is all about. We assume something about someone, so even before we hear what they have to say we have already reached a conclusion. This is what is killing politics, marriages, race relations, and even churches…we leap before we listen.
3. Don’t be Offended (Prov. 12:16) – Why do other people’s words hurt us so much? If God is for me…who cares if Joe Schmoe or Jane Doe is not?

Let a listening revolution start with you. Try it out today, listen before you leap!