Proverbs 24:6 …. in the multitude of counselors there
is wisdom.
I listened attentively to an acquaintance give a
passionate speech on how he viewed a particular issue. While I agreed with his
viewpoint, I grimaced as he provided his “proof” that his viewpoint was
correct. He quoted several statistics that were very outdated. He gave numerous
examples that have been proven by several different well known sources to be
false. Though he spoke with great passion and incredible conviction, the factual
inaccuracies of his speech took away all of his persuasive power. Finally,
someone in the audience (who to the best of my knowledge also agreed with the
speaker’s perspective) pointed out that his facts were out of date and that his
examples were proven to be false. The audience member suggested the speaker
update his presentation and then give it again at a later date. Instead of agreeing
to look for new information to bolster his claims, the speaker doubled down on
his presentation and said that that’s just the way he viewed the situation and
he was sure that was how “everyone else who mattered” viewed it too. I left
frustrated with my friend. I felt like he was wasting his passion and energy
promoting the right idea in the wrong way. Clearly he would be much more
persuasive if he listened to the advice of his audience and updated his facts and used accurate examples. But in his mind,
since that was his viewpoint, then he was entitled to it and everyone else
should just accept it. I doubt many people in the audience agreed with his
conclusion.
Far too many of us are like my friend. We tend to have
already decided what we believe before we do the research. We come up with our
tweetable one liners and our quippy Facebook statuses and let them fly before
we even hear what the facts are on any particular subject. And sometimes we
keep using data that we know is outdated or incorrect just because it supports
our perspective. This makes no sense to me. If something is the truth, then it
will stand the test of facts, figures, illustrations and research. And if
something is not true, I don’t want to be promoting it, even if it might
bolster my opinion.
When we enter into a discussion with our minds made up
before listening to anyone else’s thoughts or ideas, we court disaster. The
Bible reminds us that in the multitude of counselors there is wisdom. That does
not mean that we need a committee to vote on what is true. But it does mean
that we might need other people to help us think through how that truth applies
to our lives. No one person understands any single issue completely. We need
each other to help us sort out the complex issues we face as a culture. That
means we must listen with an open mind. It also means we have to use accurate
facts and examples. We can’t make stuff up just to prove our point. We need
honest open discussion and the hard work that goes along with that. But when we
are willing to engage in that kind of hard work, the Holy Spirit can use our
words to persuade many people to the cause of Christ.
Lord, help us to listen before we speak. When we do
speak, help us be accurate in what we say, as well as persuasive in how we say
it. Amen.
Dr. Terry W. Dorsett
serves at the Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of New England. He
has been a pastor, church planter, denominational leader and author in New
England for more than 20 years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and
adoring grandfather. He is a cancer survivor and believes that God works
powerfully through times of suffering. He writes extensively and you can find
all of his books at:
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