What would happen in our daily lives if people couldn’t communicate well? It would probably end up like the movie, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Good communication is vital. We need to speak, listen, write, and think about what is being communicated. Unfortunately, in today’s climate, that doesn’t happen often.
Our first communicator, Jesus, 33,
was a great communicator. He communicated on a human level, which is pretty
good considering the Bible says He is God.
He wanted the listeners to think about what he said, and sometimes spoke
in parables. A parable is a simple story illustrating a religious or moral
lesson.
The Pharisees thought his words
were inflammatory and wouldn’t listen to reason. They were afraid of losing their power
base. They killed him.
This is similar to our second communicator:
You are probably aware that Charlie
Kirk was the 31-year-old man who travelled countrywide, visiting college
campuses, and was assassinated at a Utah campus on September 10, 2025. He
politely encouraged young people to think through their positions. Some have said that he used inflammatory
language, but I’m not sure they actually ever listened to his debates. It’s kind of like the guy who said, “I
thought I knew a lot about the Bible, until I met someone who read it.” Charlie was polite, unlike some of his
questioners. He gave people a chance to
share their viewpoint and then shared his.
Many times, when people didn’t have an answer, they got upset and said
Kirk was inflammatory. Inflammation is
an emotional reaction rather than a thought process. In America today, many react. They killed
Charlie.
It seems that we Americans get
offended when others hold differing views and we can’t prove them wrong. Then it turns to name-calling and a shouting
match. It’s no wonder we can’t
communicate.
Some colleges cancel speakers
because of their stance. I thought
college was supposed to be a place to share ideas. One can have their ideas as long as they align
with the institution's agenda. A few
years back, there was to be a debate between an evolutionist and a creationist. Shortly before the event was scheduled, it
was cancelled. What was there to fear? The truth?
Is it possible to talk to each
other and listen to what the other has to say?
In the end, we may not agree, but we can respect the other's right to do
so. If we can’t, we may resort to
violence. Can our nation survive without good communication and listening
skills?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. III said, at the 50th anniversary of his father’s “I have a dream” speech:
“We
must learn non-violence, or we may face non-existence.”
Communication can be a weapon or a
tool. Will you join me in practicing
good communication without taking offence? Isn't that what our nation needs right now?
