"Can We Talk Again?" by Blane Baker

Over the past several months, I have become convinced that we as individuals, the church, and a nation must return to a culture that values open, cordial, and respectful dialogue. In particular, I am advocating for individuals and groups to participate in conversations about difficult topics in an effort to examine multiple views and, ultimately, to contribute to creative problem solving.

To promote this kind of culture, I would like to elaborate on some of the characteristics that will help these conversations to be as fruitful as possible.

Open dialogue begins with mutual respect and a commitment to collegiality and a sincere desire to listen. We are all members of society, and we are equally important. Being cordial to one another must become once again a part of American culture—and not compromised because we want to win an argument or demean someone else. The ability to listen is a trait that we can cultivate each and every day. We can start by truly listening to those closest to us. Once we begin to fully listen, we can at least appreciate another point of view. From there, we will be able to more fully understand the various components of societal problems. Problem-solving can then focus on examining disparate views and positions and arriving at the best possible solutions.    

Another way to encourage further dialogue is to always work for the common good. I am often disheartened by the lack of cooperation in our culture as seen in many parts of our society, including government, churches, and even families. This lack of cooperation leads to internal strife, and, more often than not, dysfunction. Cooperation, on the other hand, promotes creative problem-solving and ongoing discussions. When a society values working for the common good, seemingly insurmountable problems become manageable. (Here, I could offer many examples, but I do not want this discussion to get too political. Ask me personally if you would like to hear more.)  

Once conversations have begun, I would encourage everyone to remain committed to engagement. Remaining committed to the conversations is critical—even if they are not always fruitful and even if our views are not always embraced. Conversations themselves will lower barriers and promote increased collaboration. We will learn new perspectives and use this knowledge to develop a culture of creative and collaborative problem solving.

In thinking about what I am proposing here, I am reminded of Jesus’ conversations with those around Him. Time after time Jesus used words such as “all who are weary,” “if anyone desires to come after me,” “let them come to me”, and “whosoever will.” All these phrases show the all-encompassing and inclusive love of Christ. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace and promote inclusivity and strive for the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom. To do less is to neglect our Christian commitment. To embrace this challenge is to fulfill the love of Christ—as seen by each one being valued and each one being invited to the table.

As a final note, I have committed to engaging in several conversations each month with folks who see the world differently than I do. I would encourage you to do the same.