6 ways to engage in constructive conversations about faith this holiday season

OPINION:

Discussing religion with those who hold different beliefs can be a daunting task. Finding common ground on sensitive topics can be challenging. Many people wish they were better equipped to engage others with different points of view.

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Fortunately, there are practical strategies available to help Christians engage in constructive dialogues. Greg Koukl’s book “Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges” offers valuable tools to navigate these conversations.

Lets delve into Koukl’s ideas to offer effective and faith-based strategies for engaging in conversations with individuals who hold divergent beliefs.

Importance of respect in communication

Before embarking on any conversation, it is vital to establish respect as the cornerstone of any conversation. You can start by actively listening to the other person’s views before sharing your own beliefs. This sets a positive tone early on and demonstrates your willingness to understand, creating a platform for further discussion.

Addressing overarching worldviews

As you converse with those who hold different beliefs, it is essential to understand the overarching worldview at play. By grasping their perspective, you will more readily identify points of convergence or tension between the two opposing worldviews, leading to more fruitful conversations.

Leaning on objective moral values

When interacting with someone who does not believe in Christianity, one effective approach is to focus on shared moral beliefs. For example, both parties can express their desire for justice, mercy, and love as fundamental principles of human conduct that are good and right. By discussing the consistency and universal appeal of these moral values, you can establish a solid framework for further discussions.

Columbo Tactic

Instead of aggressively asserting your beliefs, the Columbo Tactic encourages you to ask well-crafted questions that challenge the basis of opposing viewpoints. By adopting a detective’s mindset, you can ask open-ended questions that foster reflection and exploration of each other’s viewpoints and will provide you with the necessary information needed to carry the conversation further.

Demonstrating a reasonable faith

As you gain insight into why your friend rejects belief in Christianity, Koukl suggests that at some point in the conversation, it is necessary for you to present reasonable arguments that support what you believe as a Christian. By giving evidence that supports the rationality of Christianity, your friend is forced to weigh the evidence and evaluate if their rejection of Christianity is still tenable.

Empathy and emotional intelligence

For a conversation to be truly productive, one must acknowledge the emotional aspects that come into play when discussing deeply-held beliefs, and choose their words and responses carefully. The book of Proverbs provides a profound piece of advice in this regard: “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” (15:18). There will be times when you may feel disrespected and tempted to react impulsively. However, it’s important to remember that maintaining patience during a disagreement is crucial to preserve the connection with the person. Even if you disagree, try to understand their perspective and focus on finding common ground to build on.

When you engage with others with an open mind and a genuine hunger for truth, you’ll be surprised at how smoothly things flow. So don’t hold back. Let the beauty of God’s truth shine through as you effectively engage others for Christ.

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Jason Jimenez is the founder and president of Stand Strong Ministries and is a respected Christian-worldview speaker, and faculty member at Summit Ministries. He is the best-selling author of “Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over the Church,” “Challenging Conversations: A Practical Guide to Discuss Controversial Topics in the Church,” and “Parenting Gen Z: Guiding Your Child through a Hostile Culture.”