Showing Love and Respect in our Dialogue

Disagreements have been a part of our collective human experience since the beginning. Though I may disagree with another’s point of view, I should not be disagreeable in how I treat the person.They are not my foe; they are fellow human being who needs to be understood just as I need to be understood.

When I sit down and talk with someone, or interact with them through social media, I should treat them as I wish to be treated. I learned that from Jesus.Most people refer to it as the “Golden Rule”.

The truth is that we all have different personalities and points of view.I have not found anyone who agrees with me on everything.I do not even agree with everything I believed a few years ago.People change, but not often because one side does all of the talking.

Most people like Jesus because they see Him as, well, friendly.He is nice.Yet, no one would question Jesus’ commitment to His convictions.Though there were times when He did most of the talking, we most often find Him in situations where He is simply spending time with people.Jesus took the time to have dialogue, to listen to the hurting and the oppressed, and to touch those who the world had rejected.

One of the most convicting passages of Scripture showing the value of dialogue is found in John 4.Jesus finds himself alone with a woman who has a colored history, and whose present situation is questionable at best.She has had five husbands already, and she is now living with a man to whom she is not married.Jesus takes the time to have a conversation with her, and it is not one-sided.He let the woman talk and ask questions.He listened patiently and responded with kindness and conviction.In so doing, He proved we can have dialogue with anyone.

Let’s avoid stereotypes, prejudices, and labels; and let’s embrace conversation, sympathy, and love.Some of the best moments of my life have been when I had a genuine dialogue with someone whose views were different from my own.When I sat down with them to seek understanding, we both found that we were more alike than we ever knew.

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)