“Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows.” (Psalm 64:2-3) Every few years society’s buzzwords change. Especially in the circles of the well educated and ‘supposed’ change agents of our culture. A couple years back people talked about the importance of “dialogue”, participating in “community”, breaking down modern constructs in our “postmodern” world. Now the cool new thing that we all must do is create a space for having robust “conversation.” The formal definition of conversation means “an informal exchange of ideas by spoken words.” Let’s sit down together with a beer and have a conversation. Let's cross the street and go into the living room of people who are not like us and learn from them. Sounds great! We all should try that. But that isn’t really what people mean by that anymore. In the political realm and arenas of higher learning “having a conversation” means to have a serious discussion with less intelligent people so they start seeing things the right way, our way.
Conversation is the new passive-aggressive strong arm tactic of those who think they know more than the rest of us. The word sounds innocent, “an informal exchange”; but it is a ploy to get you to see things the politically correct way. Moreover, it is the new way to overturn ideas we all once accepted as true and right.
Conversations, in and of themselves, are not a solution. They do not have special power to change things. It is good to talk, to discuss, to see each other’s point of view; but the way that word is now used is not what the person using it means. They somehow think having a conversation has power to “change you to see things my way”. Psalm 64:5 says, “wicked people talk while hiding their snares.” Do you really believe the politicians on the platform are being honest with you, or are they snaring you to give them more power? Do you think Twitter and Facebook rants encourage real conversation? Or all we all just blowing off steam into a world that is already agonizingly hot? Maybe our faux-conversations are the true cause of global warming? So then how do you really have a true conversation? And why should I believe this blog, because it sure seem like you are using words to get the reader to see things your way? I only have one agenda: to have words mean what they are defined as. A conversation is a great thing when it isn’t a strong arm tactic and people respect both sides of the the conversation. If someone is right we need to acknowledge it. If someone is wrong, they need to be willing to admit their fault. I love what Isaiah 66:2 says about the person God admires and likes, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Two things to note about this verse:
Obedience to God and his word brings life, health and peace. We don’t obey because we are smart and have everything figured out; we obey because he does. Having a conversation is allowing someone to see where I fall short as it comes to truth. A conversation is meant to bring us to the light, not to find agreement on the darkness. I love how Psalm 64:8 & 10 ends: “He will turn their own tongues (the wicked) against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him.” God’s truth is solid. Our goal is to build our lives upon it. And until we do, no amount of talking with others will change the fact we are not standing on solid ground. Truth simply means “what is.” The sun is in the sky. That is the truth. I need oxygen to breath. That is the truth. God is...that is the truth.
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