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| Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash |
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.
(2 Timothy 2:23-24 CEV)
Today's instant communication culture breeds hostility. I'm guilty and so are you. We see or read something we don't like and we feel compelled to comment or send a text that we later regret.
I enjoy a good discussion so yes, I will comment from time to time on the things that interest me. But I must always be careful with the nature of WHAT I say and HOW I say it. Remember, if you are a Christian you are called to serve a God that clearly tells us to be kind, to be a good teacher, and to be patient.
What does that look like? For me, it means to first think about the other person when I communicate. Am I being kind or rude? Selfish? Self-serving? Are my words considerate? Second, if in a position to lead, is my teaching kind? Am I clear in how I communicate? Never assume the other person knows your personality. More and more communication is electronic and body language is unavailable. Be careful with what you say. And last, show patience. This includes being humble enough to know when you might be wrong and to apologize. You read that right. You might be wrong! Never be afraid to admit that. It makes you a better person and a better leader. Be patient with others. It's easy to fire back some hurtful words when the other party says something bad but remember, "Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments". Know when to walk away and let it go.
Thanks for reading.
(2 Timothy 2:23-24 CEV)
Today's instant communication culture breeds hostility. I'm guilty and so are you. We see or read something we don't like and we feel compelled to comment or send a text that we later regret.
I enjoy a good discussion so yes, I will comment from time to time on the things that interest me. But I must always be careful with the nature of WHAT I say and HOW I say it. Remember, if you are a Christian you are called to serve a God that clearly tells us to be kind, to be a good teacher, and to be patient.
What does that look like? For me, it means to first think about the other person when I communicate. Am I being kind or rude? Selfish? Self-serving? Are my words considerate? Second, if in a position to lead, is my teaching kind? Am I clear in how I communicate? Never assume the other person knows your personality. More and more communication is electronic and body language is unavailable. Be careful with what you say. And last, show patience. This includes being humble enough to know when you might be wrong and to apologize. You read that right. You might be wrong! Never be afraid to admit that. It makes you a better person and a better leader. Be patient with others. It's easy to fire back some hurtful words when the other party says something bad but remember, "Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments". Know when to walk away and let it go.
Thanks for reading.
