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One of the biggest hang-ups for Evangelicals is the fear we are comprising truth by participating in any kind of bridge-building activity.
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1/12
I recently stated on Twitter that part of following Jesus means listening to people who feel like “the other.”
I listed many groups of people.
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I listed many groups of people.
2/12
Shortly after, someone messaged me with questions about my theology.
One sentence read, “We can’t let empathy override what Scripture says about sin.”
3/12
One sentence read, “We can’t let empathy override what Scripture says about sin.”
3/12
Many Christians fear that spending time listening means we have to sacrifice our convictions.
This is not true.
It means we have to sacrifice our defensiveness.
4/12
This is not true.
It means we have to sacrifice our defensiveness.
4/12
I believe in absolute truth.
I also believe it’s been weaponized.
We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we have not love, we are nothing.
5/12
I also believe it’s been weaponized.
We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we have not love, we are nothing.
5/12
When we prioritize truth at the expense of love, we damage our faith and our witness because truth without love is ultimately not the truth.
The same goes for neglecting truth and favoring love. We must have both.
6/12
The same goes for neglecting truth and favoring love. We must have both.
6/12
As I’ve talked to and read from people outside our faith tradition here in the U.S., a common statement is this:
“You do not have to convince us about what you believe. We already know.”
7/12
“You do not have to convince us about what you believe. We already know.”
7/12
Most people are aware of the truths to which we adhere, but they are unsure of our love.
We should not be surprised if certain people groups assume we hate them if the only time we discuss them is in relation to how they miss the mark.
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We should not be surprised if certain people groups assume we hate them if the only time we discuss them is in relation to how they miss the mark.
8/12
We also fail to love people as precious image-bearers of God if we place conditions on listening to their stories.
9/12
9/12
When we’re only comfortable listening if we can “speak the truth” in response to what we hear, we come across as dismissive, dehumanizing, and display a lack of self-awareness.
10/12
10/12
When people are wounded, we don’t start with hard truths.
We help mend.
We seek to understand their hurt.
We assess our responsibility and confess where we’ve fallen short.
We establish common ground.
We offer our presence and our compassion.
11/12
We help mend.
We seek to understand their hurt.
We assess our responsibility and confess where we’ve fallen short.
We establish common ground.
We offer our presence and our compassion.
11/12
This isn’t shrinking from the truth.
It’s ensuring it.
Truth is best heard when people are convinced of our love.
12/12
It’s ensuring it.
Truth is best heard when people are convinced of our love.
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