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 Resources What Do You Think? September 2003
What Do You Think?
September 2003
"The most effective defense of the faith and offense against falsehood must be based
on an examination of worldviews and the challenges based on this examination."
-- Ravi Zacharias (from the book Is Your Church Ready?)
This month I write a short column with a challenging question. How do you contend with
opinions and beliefs different than your own? Whether we consider moral issues, ethical
perspectives, or our Christian faith, there is almost always one or more viewpoints
different from our own.
In the Christian church we’re taught the creation story. Most public schools teach evolution.
How do you respond to the evolutionist who questions the validity of creationism?
More recently, the church has been struggling with the issue of homosexuality. Regardless
of your personal beliefs, how do you support your view when discussing the issue with people
holding different views?
More generally, how do you respond when someone asks "Why do you believe that?" Do you
answer "Just because" or "That’s how I was raised"? Do you attempt to avoid such
conversations? Do you refuse to read about or study world views different from your own
for fear that they may "rub off"?
I would like to suggest that "sticking our collective heads in the sand" is not the answer.
I would further contend that in order to defend and support one's own position, we must first
fully understand it. Is our view consistent with our core set of values? Next, we must study
and attempt to understand the beliefs and thought processes that diverge from our own.
I have found that I learn best under two very specific situations. First, when forced to
defend my position against others who are well prepared to defend theirs. And second, when
attempting to teach what I know or understand to others.
Both can be employed in the church setting to help us better understand ourselves. Ethical
discussions, such as those held on the topic of homosexuality, offer each of us an opportunity
to hear and understand views different from our own. And while the most obvious form of
teaching may be Sunday school, there are many other ways in which you can share your own
experiences. (Volunteer to write a column for the newsletter or to host a discussion on the
topic of your choice.)
I believe, in order to understand ourselves, we must make an effort to understand others.
What do you think?
Jeff Hand (jhand@isualum.com)
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