To whom do you refer when you write,, “most of my readers”? Do you mean me and your mom?

Love in Christ,

Jeff

“That’s what I did. What would you do?” is, I think, a great discussion starter. Then, people can respond with “Well, in that situation, I would…” (Which is great!)

What I thought I was hearing was “You ought to try…” or “You just need to…”

As I said, maybe I was being too sensitive. Maybe it’s just a matter of preference or something.

I love your blog and the discussion it stirs up! My point of saying we are all leaders is that we all have something to contribute to the discussion–not final solutions or pat answers. I wasn’t really hearing pat or patronizing answers. Maybe it sounds like a pat answer if it is one you don’t agree with or one you think doesn’t go far enough (fair enough), but isn’t that the point of discussion, to allow others to contribute? Perhaps the “answers” to the leaders questions can be couched as “here is one idea, what do you think?” rather than “here is what I would do” or “here is what I think you ought to do.” But, her (the leader’s) question was “what would you do…?” How else do you discuss or respond to that kind of question in conversation? None of us there were academics discussing theoretical situations. We all deal with the real world and real people, so we all can draw on our own experience to contribute to the discussion.
The biggest issue, IMHO, in that seminar was that several people didn’t agree with the speaker’s conclusions and approach initially because they didn’t understand her terminolgy, especially her use of the word “validate”. I think that is what sparked a lot of the initial responses, until she and others explained her terminology. I think people began to realize she wasn’t saying this fellow’s beliefs were valid as such but that he was “validly” trying to find answers to life and she didn’t want to stifle that process. I also think she was intentionally provocative (which is cool). There was a great deal of wisdom and experience in that room besides the speaker. Many had some “valid” things to say and it wasn’t only the speaker who helped it come right in the end. I think one purpose in encouraging discussion is in allowing the group to work through the messy process. Maybe everyone is better for it in the end.

I agree that we are leaders. But what does being a leader have to do with asking questions? Are you saying that followers ask questions and leaders give answers?

I’m glad to hear from someone who was in the same workshop. Maybe I was the only one who had trouble with it. I agree that it ended up great, but only beacuse the speaker did a brilliant job of responding to the people who patronized her with “Well, you just gotta pray, share the Gospel, and move on” sort of answers.

I guess my point in the original post was just that communication through “questions” is underrated, and that discussion by way of “answers” is overrated and underused in our circles.

I’m sorry I haven’t posted for so long. My attention has been given to the IMB conflict, trying to help with a solution. I’m still enjoying reading every one of your blogs.

Love in Christ,

Jeff

But I agree that question-asking is an art. A good question-asker can expose the Sunday-school answers. At least that’s been my experience.

my question though is(appropriate?!)…how in this situation do you help facilitate conversation and not just recieve the “silver bullet” answers?

-born

Real wisdom means asking questions. It means recognizing that we don’t have it figured out. James said real wisdom means living well and living humbly (3:13 MSG). Proverbs tells me over and over (maybe it tells other people this, too) that thinking I have the answers should probably tell me I don’t, and that not listening to others is a bad road. That’s how I want to live.

I’m with you. Let’s ask questions like why aren’t there new churches in our part of Europe? Why are we still fighting about new directions that aren’t really that new any more? Why can’t we acknowledge that we don’t have it all figured out and published by LifeWay?

Why are there some Catholics I know who seem to walk closer to God than some Baptists I know? Why do I have such nice stuff in my house when my national pastor friend struggles to survive? Who decided we can’t do it this way or that way?