"Once there is suspicion about person's motives... everything he does becomes tainted."--Ghandi
Tim Muelhoff delivered an amazing talk on how communication affects the receptivity of the Gospel. During his talk I received a message from someone who sent me a discouraging message framed in the context of suspicion.
The message gave me pause as I realize how often I do the very same thing; in fact believing the worst or making false assumptions is one of my most frequent sins. Because it often feels like a 'white lie,' I do not grieve the broken things in my heart and head that contribute to that behavior.
Questions that I'm wrestling with:
- Why is this so prevalent in Christian culture?
- What specific challenges in ministry seem to bring this issue out even more frequently than other jobs?
- How directly do you respond when spoken to in this fashion? What is the healthy way of expressing anger/sadness without escalating the interaction and failing to redeem the differences experienced?
