Conversations
By Jenny Sung, Executive Coordinator
I love a good conversation. As a lover of quality time, my favorite moments in life are quality conversations. I love conversations with my kids, especially when they teach me a new term or introduce a new point of view. Seeing the world from their perspective is fascinating, and I realize we always have more to learn and reflect upon. God made each of us quite unique.
Conversation is good, but how often do we really engage in dialogue with vulnerability, active listening, and conversational reciprocity? How well do we really know someone unless we’ve given the safe space to engage in edifying and meaningful conversation? When we make space to sit and share, we can learn to cherish one another’s thoughts and opinions, whether it’s about art, theology, social dilemmas, political views, or the challenges of life.
I love conversations at the Alpha Course, where people share their doubts, questions, and beliefs about life and the Christian faith. Alpha has taught me to be more comfortable engaging in honest conversations about God with non-Christians. I have to admit, I have some anxiety about having conversations with non-Christians about God. Will I alienate them? Tell them something that seems so cliché? Make me look stupid? Make them feel judged? It’s easier to have conversations about anything else––a good movie, Netflix, food, work. It’s safer, less risky. But honest and meaningful conversation does take risk, a willingness to skate on thin ice and fall, even as you know that the bedrock of love and faith in Christ won’t move. Do I dare let go and let God?
Absolutely.
Educator and New Testament scholar Donald Juel said this about genuine conversation:
"The gospel truth, for which the church has regarded the Bible as a reliable source and norm, matters only when it enters bound imaginations and frees people who have no hope and dare not dream of living abundantly. But if people are to hear a strange new word, someone will have to learn their language and speak with them. Genuine conversation is required, and conversation is risky.”
He continues to say, “Disagreements are not a sign of community breakdown, but of life. The possibility of edifying conversation in the face of differing opinions, however, requires a measure of trust and goodwill- the result, the church claims, of the presence and work of the Spirit.” (Juel, Donald. “Your Word is Truth: Some Reflections on a Hard Saying”)
Ephesians 4:29-32 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
In the midst of uncertainty and challenge, it can feel risky to trust God and the work of His Spirit in the world. But we must hold trust and goodwill as regular parts of edifying conversation, forgiving one another, just as Christ forgave us. As we live in tenuous and uncertain times, let us hold firm to the ministry of grace and compassion. If God is real, if Jesus has indeed overcome death and died for our sins and reconciled us to God, then there is always the hope of reconciliation and liberation in meaningful and edifying conversation.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Kingdom work of grace and compassion in the world. May we practice grace, kindness, and compassion in all our conversations, listening well, and building up one another to benefit others. May Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
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