Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions.” Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Take the time to listen to other people’s opinions.”

There’s an intellectual disease spreading like a cancer throughout our society today. It is eating away at our collective ability to engage in rational and reasoned conversations with those with whom we disagree. It is also destroying our ability to objectively consider all sides of an issue before we arrive at our conclusions.

The disease is known as “confirmation bias”. It’s not a physical disease but a mental one. It’s a short circuit in an individual’s reasoning power which limits his or her ability to arrive at accurate conclusions that fairly reflect reality. The condition of confirmation bias is a situation whereby we have already arrived at our conclusion before we even engage in the conversation, and therefore rather than seriously considering the point the other person is trying to make, we’re simply out to prove our own point.

Confirmation bias is often based on political affiliations, tradition, prejudice, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, emotion, etc. Because it is a “bias” it is often not based on objective facts and a sincere desire to determine the actual truth of a situation. Confirmation bias also lends itself to demonizing those with whom you disagree.

This is what’s being described in Proverbs 18:2. Such a person has no interest in arriving at truth, or even in making an attempt to understand why the other person believes as he or she does. Their only concern is to voice their own pre-determined opinions.

Those who oppose Christianity and Biblical principles often know little about Christianity and Biblical principles. Instead they have some superficial and inaccurate pre-determined ideas which they cling to as truth, and they have little interest in having a serious discussion about it. But as Christians we do this too. How many of us have had a serious discussion with an atheist or a homosexual, listening closely as they explained what they believe and how they feel?

The mental disease of confirmation bias is becoming more and more of a problem in our society and it’s the major reason that people simply are not listening to each other. We should be sure of our own positions, but that certainty should be based on facts and study and logical thought, and it should include time spent giving serious consideration to the other person’s opinion. We will talk more about this tomorrow.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a person with understanding keeps silent.” Proverbs 11:12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Unkind words never help.”

As we near the end of our long discussion about “changing the tone of the conversation”, I’m reminded of the wise words from philosopher and theologian N.T. Wright: “Civil discourse isn’t the answer to everything, but uncivil discourse isn’t the answer to anything.” I’m certain Wright is correct. Kind words, and reasoned rational discussion, won’t solve all problems, but mean-spirited attacks and hurtful words won’t solve anything, not ever.

As I listen to the conversations taking place in our country today, especially in the news media and from some of our highest leaders, I’m reminded of a scene from the days of the ancient Romans. In those days thousands of spectators would gather in coliseums to watch gladiators do battle, and the crowds would go wild with cheering and shouting and almost insane pleasure at the sight of it all. It was a blood sport.

The verbal combat taking place in our society today isn’t much different. The warriors in the arena are often vicious and bloodthirsty, while their supporters cheer them on, eagerly anticipating the next mean tweet, the next clever zinger. This is happening on all sides and across the political spectrum. It’s not limited to one political party, one special interest group, or just certain individuals.

To a large extent it has become a blood sport and rather than being appalled by it, rather than being revolted and insisting that it stop, many in the coliseum are cheering it on and calling for more. And so, the situation keeps getting worse. At some point enough of us need to get so tired of it that we insist it has to stop. “Civil discourse isn’t the answer to everything, but uncivil discourse isn’t the answer to anything.”

In Proverbs 11:12 Solomon says that people who use that kind of uncivil discourse have no sense. They are not wise people. They’re making things worse not better. He goes on to say that a person with understanding keeps silent. This is similar to what your mother told you, “If you can’t say something nice about a person then don’t say anything at all.”

Maybe you don’t agree with that statement. Maybe you think that’s a naïve and impractical expectation in politics and political commentary. Well, okay. But you’re not in disagreement with me you’re in disagreement with God. Proverbs 11:12 are His words not mine. God is the One who said “Either speak nicely or keep your mouth shut”.

It’s fine to advocate for your position; you can even do it vigorously and with passion; but it needs to be done without being mean or unkind.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “To guard your mouth you must guard your heart.”

To guard your mouth you must guard your heart, for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks – so says Jesus in Matthew 12:34b. Luke records this same truth for us in Luke 6:45 using slightly different words:

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

One of the most important Biblical truths God has given us is that the condition of the heart governs the words we speak and the actions we take. Through sheer force of will we might we able to conceal the real condition of our heart for a while, but sooner or later, especially in unguarded moments or in times of stress and pressure, what’s really in the heart is going to come out of the mouth. This means that we need to have a transformed heart, and also that we then need to do the things that nurture that transformed heart.

The moment you make a decision to place your faith in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart and begins a lifelong process of transformation as He works to change you into the man or woman God intends for you to be. But it is a process, a lifelong process, and the work is not all up to the Holy Spirit. Each of us has a role in this too. We must have personal daily spiritual disciplines like prayer time and Bible study. Throughout the day we must also intentionally fill our minds with good thoughts and influences, as opposed to the filth of the world. And we must faithfully gather with other Christians for study, fellowship, worship, and service. Full participation in the life of a good church is one of the most transformative activities a Christian can engage in.

I encourage you to attend church this Sunday. If you aren’t already a member of a good church, I invite you to visit us at Oak Hill Baptist in Crossville, TN. Sunday school is at 9:00, the worship service is 10:00, and the evening service is at 6:00. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.oakhillbaptist.net.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Your words can help people grow.”

There is a well-proven truth about human development which clearly demonstrates that we have the power to speak into other peoples lives the things we want to be true of them. If you want something to be true of someone, begin speaking to them as if that thing is true of them. Whether it’s a character trait, a behavioral pattern, or a fundamental belief, you can help to form a person’s thoughts and conduct by speaking it into their life.

The thought-merchants in our society use this strategy all the time. The idea is that if you say something often enough, pretty soon people will begin to believe it must be true. They will then embrace it as truth and they will begin to behave accordingly. Advertisers use this technique too. That’s why you see so many commercials for a product or service, over and over again, forming your thoughts about it to the point that you agree with the commercial that you really do need to have this thing.

If the cultural elites can use the strategy so effectively to form the thoughts and alter the behavior of a society, and if advertisers can use it to market their products, surely we, the people of God, can use it in positive ways that bless people and help them to grow.

Church leaders can use it to help form the thinking and alter the behavior of a church. It starts with statements like, “We believe and embrace the truth of Acts 1:8 that we are to be on-mission with Jesus outside the walls of these church buildings. And just to prove it, next Sunday night we’re going to have our services at the Bread of Life Rescue Mission instead of here at the church building. We will also provide, cook, and serve the meal.” Afterwards you say, “See, I told you we were an Acts 1:8 people on mission with Jesus. Now let’s do it some more”. Then you keep talking about it, keep repeating it, keep building on it, and eventually you discover that the church is routinely doing things like that on a regular basis.

Parents can use this strategy to good effect with children. Tell him you know that he has it within himself to be a well-behaved little boy who gets good grades in school. Then take steps to help him achieve that. Then when he does, tell him you knew all along that it was true of him. Then help him to do more of it, repeating and reinforcing and complimenting all along the way.

As Proverbs 15:5 teaches, our words can help people or they can hurt people. Our words can be a source of encouragement that lifts them up and helps them grow, or they can tear a person down and hurt them. I encourage you to intentionally speak into people’s lives the good things that you want to be true of them.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.” Proverbs 15:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Calm things down instead of stirring things up.”

In a previous devotional message I referred to the truth that people can either be like a thermometer or a thermostat. A thermometer simply measures the temperature in a room and reflects it back. A person who is like a thermometer simply reflects back whatever the emotional temperature in a room is. However, while an actual thermometer is neutral, in that it doesn’t change anything it just reflects back what is already there, a person who is like a thermometer is not neutral – they can actually make things worse. By simply reflecting back the emotional environment in the room you end up adding to it. For instance, if people in the room are already angry, and you reflect that back, now there is one more person in the room who is angry and the level of anger just increased.

An actual thermostat changes things. It adjusts the temperature in the room up or down (and that can be good or bad depending on what’s needed). Likewise, a person who is like a thermostat interacts with the emotional environment and changes it, for the better or for the worse (change can make things better, or change can make things worse).

Today, in Proverbs 15:18, Solomon makes reference to a person who makes things worse by stirring up anger. He could be a thermometer who is simply reflecting back what other people are giving off, or he could be a thermostat who takes an otherwise peaceful situation and changes it by introducing anger. A hot-tempered person always makes things worse.

We’ve all known angry people like this. They often seem to have anger percolating just below the surface and you never know when it’s going to boil up and spew out. Such people often have hair triggers, they’re usually easily offended, and they can be tough to have around. They make things worse instead of better with their anger.

Each of us is personally responsible for the tone we set in our conversations; we are responsible for the words that we speak, and by the way that we speak them. By now in this long devotional series about changing the tone of the conversation, we can easily see that this is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. No one can “make” you mad. You have to let them make you mad. You are responsible for your own emotional state and you are responsible for the words that come out of your mouth.

Don’t be the angry person who stirs things up. Instead, be the one who blesses others by choosing reactions that make things better instead of worse. Be the one who calms things down.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is:

Our theme for this month: “Changing the tone of the conversation”

Our Bible verse for today: “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Be kind”

I love the concept described by the Hebrew word “chesed”. “Chesed” essentially means “loving kindness” and it is used throughout the Old Testament in a variety of ways (248 times in the Hebrew Bible). “Chesed” is often attributed to God in the way in which he deals with us in His loving kindness, but it also pertains to how people deal with one another.

It’s featured prominently in the Old Testament book of Ruth. We find Naomi expressing “chesed”, or loving kindness, towards her daughters-in-law Ruth and Orphah when, after the deaths of her sons (their husbands), she encourages them to go back to their own people rather than remaining with her and caring for her. She was expressing a sacrificial loving kindness towards them.

We then read of Ruth showing the same loving kindness back towards Naomi. She declined to leave Naomi and instead committed to staying with her mother-in-law to care for her, even though it didn’t appear as if it would be in her (Ruth’s) own best interest to do so. That’s “chesed”. In the same story we read of the family redeemer, Boaz, extending loving kindness towards both Ruth and Naomi as he used his position of affluence and authority to provide for them in their need.

We also find “chesed” on display in the relationship between the young King David and his close friend Jonathan in 1 Samuel chapter twenty. There we read of loving kindness expressed in both directions between close friends.

The spirit of “chesed” can be expressed in both word and deed. You have within you the power to show people loving kindness if you choose to. You can express it both by the words that you say and in the actions that you take.

“Chesed” is an Old Testament Hebrew word, but we see the concept on prominent display in the New Testament as well, especially in the life of Jesus and in the writings of the Apostle John (The Apostle of love). Therefore although it’s an Old Testament word, it applies equally to us New Testament people.

I encourage you to intentionally bless someone today – with your words and with your deeds. Few things can help to change the tone of the conversation more, in a positive way, than genuine expressions of loving kindness.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our mailing address is: