Originally published on Heart of the Matter Online 7/24/08
One of my favorite Bible professors in college started class one day by opening his Bible and saying, "Scholars claim that no other passage shows the errors of Scripture more than Luke 2:1-4." [That's the passage that tells about the days when Quirinius was governor, Augustus took a census of the whole Roman world, so Joseph went to his hometown to be registered.]
Silence.
My professor went on, "We have no record of the census mentioned in the passage but we do of many others around this time. We know that Quirinius was not governor for another six years. And what's more, the Romans did not require people to register in their home towns."
Again, he let that sink in.
Then he asked the class to respond. No one could. I was as lost as everyone else.
The Turn
There have been few moments in my life where I can say that an event changed me. This was one of them. Not that I went home and studied the Bible differently, or suddenly decided to become a pastor. No, the shift was far more subtle than that. It was a realization that I needed to become more aware of the other side of an argument.
I had spent my previous years in high school debating evolution with my secular classmates. I could tear everyone apart because I knew my side so well. Any time someone would bring up an argument, I started to smile. I already knew the answer. The rebuttal. I could sit in a circle of seven of my classmates and debate them all. I was unstoppable.
But no one really listened. I didn't convince anyone. I argued. I never lost. But, then again, I never won.
And that day in college gave me a glimpse into why no one bothered to really listen to me. It was because I had never really listened to them. They, like me, knew their side. And so, like me, they ignored the other side. So, in essence, we were talking past each other, at each other, but never to each other. In debate, this process has a formal name. It's called "The Turn". It's where you take what the previous speaker has said and "turn" it so you can claim they were actually arguing for your side.
It's effective. Disgusting--but effective at helping you "win" debates. But it's not very useful when it comes to arriving at truth.
The Truth
That morning, sitting in Bible class, I was confronted with the terrifying reality that I had no way of arriving at truth. I knew I had to wait for my professor to tell me why the Bible was still an accurate rendition of history. And he did. And it was actually fun, rewarding, and positively enjoyable to hear the rebuttals. Truth was accessible again; the Bible reliable; our faith well-grounded.
From that day on, I no longer feared the other side of an argument. I certainly still worry that I won't have a good response like that day in class, but I am free to listen to the claims and accusations of the other side. I can truly hear what they have to say, and I don't have to hide behind my well-rehearsed arguments. I can look the opposition in the eye and let him dump everything he's got on me. Then I can dig through the muck and, with the help of those who have gone before me, arrive at the truth. And, since he has seen me listen to him, my opponent may be more willing to listen to me.
And this openness is something we need to encourage in those around us: Friends, family, and children. It's something we need to encourage within the Christian and homeschooling community as well. Not that we all need to devote our lives to apologetics, politics, or science, but we should be willing to consider the arguments of those who disagree with us. And as we consider those ideas together, in a give and take discussion, we will have a much higher chance of arriving at truth with the other person, rather than sitting on it alone.
Let the Light In
So what are the pet doctrines and beliefs you hold to? Do you have a particular stance on, say, birth control, evolution, politics, abortion, capital punishment, the age of the earth, eschatology, modesty, or dating? As a particularly opinionated person--my mother assures me I come by "honestly"--I have an opinion on almost all of these subjects, and plenty more. But as my opinions solidify, I am learning to leave them open to the honest questions raised by others. This is not indiscriminate open-mindedness, but rather, as my dad once quoted to me, "The purpose of an open mind is to close it again on something solid." Thus, if you find yourself particularly passionate about a subject or issue, may I encourage you to look into the other side's perspective. You may discover a need to tweak your own beliefs, or you may find that you are more convinced of your position than before. In either case, you will be better able to communicate with those who hold to the other side.
And as you talk with your children, may I encourage you also to expose them to the statements and arguments of positions you do not hold. As you do this, you will begin laying the foundation for them to grow up to be winsome and effective ambassadors for Christ, able to discern the truth and share it with others. This will also allow them to have those moments, like I did that day in college, where their faith is reaffirmed, their resolve strengthened, and their hearts made ready and humble for when they discuss difficult issues with others.
Silence.
My professor went on, "We have no record of the census mentioned in the passage but we do of many others around this time. We know that Quirinius was not governor for another six years. And what's more, the Romans did not require people to register in their home towns."
Again, he let that sink in.
Then he asked the class to respond. No one could. I was as lost as everyone else.
The Turn
There have been few moments in my life where I can say that an event changed me. This was one of them. Not that I went home and studied the Bible differently, or suddenly decided to become a pastor. No, the shift was far more subtle than that. It was a realization that I needed to become more aware of the other side of an argument.
I had spent my previous years in high school debating evolution with my secular classmates. I could tear everyone apart because I knew my side so well. Any time someone would bring up an argument, I started to smile. I already knew the answer. The rebuttal. I could sit in a circle of seven of my classmates and debate them all. I was unstoppable.
But no one really listened. I didn't convince anyone. I argued. I never lost. But, then again, I never won.
And that day in college gave me a glimpse into why no one bothered to really listen to me. It was because I had never really listened to them. They, like me, knew their side. And so, like me, they ignored the other side. So, in essence, we were talking past each other, at each other, but never to each other. In debate, this process has a formal name. It's called "The Turn". It's where you take what the previous speaker has said and "turn" it so you can claim they were actually arguing for your side.
It's effective. Disgusting--but effective at helping you "win" debates. But it's not very useful when it comes to arriving at truth.
The Truth
That morning, sitting in Bible class, I was confronted with the terrifying reality that I had no way of arriving at truth. I knew I had to wait for my professor to tell me why the Bible was still an accurate rendition of history. And he did. And it was actually fun, rewarding, and positively enjoyable to hear the rebuttals. Truth was accessible again; the Bible reliable; our faith well-grounded.
From that day on, I no longer feared the other side of an argument. I certainly still worry that I won't have a good response like that day in class, but I am free to listen to the claims and accusations of the other side. I can truly hear what they have to say, and I don't have to hide behind my well-rehearsed arguments. I can look the opposition in the eye and let him dump everything he's got on me. Then I can dig through the muck and, with the help of those who have gone before me, arrive at the truth. And, since he has seen me listen to him, my opponent may be more willing to listen to me.
And this openness is something we need to encourage in those around us: Friends, family, and children. It's something we need to encourage within the Christian and homeschooling community as well. Not that we all need to devote our lives to apologetics, politics, or science, but we should be willing to consider the arguments of those who disagree with us. And as we consider those ideas together, in a give and take discussion, we will have a much higher chance of arriving at truth with the other person, rather than sitting on it alone.
Let the Light In
So what are the pet doctrines and beliefs you hold to? Do you have a particular stance on, say, birth control, evolution, politics, abortion, capital punishment, the age of the earth, eschatology, modesty, or dating? As a particularly opinionated person--my mother assures me I come by "honestly"--I have an opinion on almost all of these subjects, and plenty more. But as my opinions solidify, I am learning to leave them open to the honest questions raised by others. This is not indiscriminate open-mindedness, but rather, as my dad once quoted to me, "The purpose of an open mind is to close it again on something solid." Thus, if you find yourself particularly passionate about a subject or issue, may I encourage you to look into the other side's perspective. You may discover a need to tweak your own beliefs, or you may find that you are more convinced of your position than before. In either case, you will be better able to communicate with those who hold to the other side.
And as you talk with your children, may I encourage you also to expose them to the statements and arguments of positions you do not hold. As you do this, you will begin laying the foundation for them to grow up to be winsome and effective ambassadors for Christ, able to discern the truth and share it with others. This will also allow them to have those moments, like I did that day in college, where their faith is reaffirmed, their resolve strengthened, and their hearts made ready and humble for when they discuss difficult issues with others.
Luke Holzmann is the son of John and Sarita Holzmann, founders of Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd., in Littleton, CO, where he is the Media Relations Specialist. He attended Biola University, in La Mirada, CA, and earned the BA in Motion Picture Production. You can find his work at http://www.sonlightblog.com/, production-now.com, and lukeholzmann.blogspot.com.
2 comments:
Said it before, and I'll say it again! Awesome post, Luke!
Thank you for this. I rarely hear Christians talk this way. I agree that we are doing our children a disservice by NOT exposing them to the world while they are home and able to discuss with us. Our son is heading off to the University of Chicago this fall and he's already confronted the "liberal" arguments he'll face when he gets there. He's still working through what he really believes, but we've had honest, respectful discussions that he can draw from in the future. His biggest complaint is how defensive and close-minded the Christians around him can be. So again, thank you for putting this out there.
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