Davidson College made us take a class that served as an introduction to academic writing. My professor was fantastic. One thing she continually reminded us has stuck with me. Here’s my faithful paraphrase… “Present your opponent’s argument in words they would use. Present it in such a way that, if they heard you, they would nod their head in agreement.”
What a helpful paradigm for interacting with others. Present their words in their way. Represent their argument fairly, such that their argument rises or falls on its merits. Then humbly, yet confidently, insert your voice. Critique their presuppositions. Critique their logic. Critique their conclusions. Offer, with respect and integrity, your insights and insert your voice into an on-going conversation.
Scholars aren’t the only folks inserting their voice into a broader conversation these days. That’s kind of what we do on social media. Though social media is far from the academy, I cannot help but see the applicability of this principle for inter-personal communication. Christians, specifically, I challenge us to remember a few things as we communicate, both in-person and in the wild, wild west that is digital space:
- Behind every post and underneath every label is a person made in God’s image with real hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities. (Except if that post comes from a bot…)
- That person did not reach their conclusions for no reason.
- If I’m going to engage their content (which may or may not be appropriate), I must consider what they believe & how they got there. I need to evaluate why I should insert my voice, how I may be perceived, and what I hope to accomplish in doing so.
- Finally, if engaging this person is appropriate, helpful, or necessary, I remember points one and two. I don’t set out to own them or embarrass them. I set out to converse with them, offering my perspective, experience, or worldview for their consideration. And who knows. I may not change their mind, but I may just gain a friend.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18
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