Simon Greer is a social entrepreneur with an interesting story. One of his more recent efforts in social change involves helping students at Oberlin, a more progressive college, and students at Spring Arbor, a more conservative university, find common ground.
Tim and Rick resume the discussion on conflict and discuss the influence of phatic communication, the place of humor, and the need to do soul work when one is not in the throes of conflict in order to engage conflict in healthy ways when it arises.
Dave and Ann Wilson, the hosts of FamilyLife Today®, shared with Tim and Rick that they thought the rule, “don’t talk about politics or religion” would never apply to their family. But recently, even they have agreed not to tread those waters.
Conflict - it’s part of being human, but we usually don’t handle it well. Arguments and disagreements are more likely to break down and divide rather than strengthen and fortify our relationships and communities.
In part 1 of this segment on Reports from The Front, Sean McDowell (Ph.D.) shared insight from his conversation with pastor/author Colby Martin on the differences between evangelical Christianity and progressive Christianity and how to keep the conversation civil and engaging.
It’s difficult to keep conversations on hot topics conversational and keep the back and forth from devolving into a debate. In this segment of Reports from The Front where we share stories of people who demonstrate winsome conviction in real life, Sean McDowell talks with Tim and Rick about his experience having conversations with those who have left evangelicalism.
Preston Sprinkle joins Tim and Rick to discuss what to do when you don’t know what to do to foster healthy conversations on sexuality and gender and how to mix truth and love into these conversations.
Imagine there are two Christians who are both born of the same theology. One is outraged at a city government for removing crosses from a city seal, and another is cutting the cross out of a flag. Could they both be truly following Jesus?
Tim and Rick resume the conversation on obstacles to listening and discuss two postures that undermine listening: “ambushing” and “dropping the mic.”
About the Podcast
The Winsome Conviction podcast is a biweekly podcast on learning how to deepen convictions without dividing communities. In each episode, hosts Tim Muehlhoff, Rick Langer and Mike Ahn along with frequent guest experts, consider how to cultivate understanding around our most closely held convictions and foster civility and compassion in disagreement.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at winsomeconviction@biola.edu.
