Argument

I was reading through some of the old posts and comments on this blog today, and I was struck by how argumentative some them are. When I read through them, I started asking myself: "what's the point of these?" Sometimes I posted something just to start an argument, someone would rise to the challenge, and we would, essentially, restate our own arguments a few times before the argument died out. I remember the same cycle from the days of forums when I would argue with people just for the fun of it. Now I look back and ask "why? what was the point?" The only thing I can think of is that I enjoyed it.

I realize now that all I was accomplishing with these arguments was to get myself and others worked up over hot-button issues, without any real progress made to figuring out the truth, or even really figuring out what the other person believed. I still enjoy talking about hot-button issues, but now I want a discussion, not an argument.

In an argument, everyone talks, but the only listening that goes on is listening for holes in the arguments you don't agree with. In a discussion, you listen at least as much as you talk. It is about finding out what others believe, and putting your own beliefs under the microscope. At the end of any good discussion, you will have refined or changed what you believe.

This may be kind of ironic coming from a trial lawyer, but I think that a trial is very different from the kind of arguments I'm talking about here. A trial has a purpose, and a decision maker. An argument doesn't go anywhere or accomplish anything.

 I suppose I am advocating for more discussions. I believe that you can have a discussion about any topic, even with people you don't agree with - you just have to be open, listen to what the other person has to say, and be willing to let your own beliefs be challenged, refined, and changed.

I'm back... For the Most Part

Wow, it has been a long time since I've written anything! I managed to survive my Junior year, so I should, in theory have a little more free time.

Lately I have been pondering what the purpose of my life is, what my driving force is and should be. The simple answer is that my purpose is the same as every other believer: to bring Glory to God. This simple mandate is the direction to head in, however, I wanted to look into a bit more deeply than a simple phrase so easily sidelined in daily life. When I really looked into it, I had to ask myself what passion the Lord has placed into my heart, and how it fits into His character. While I still don't have a full answer of where I am going or what I should be doing. I have seen so many problems, so much injustice, so much wrong in the society in which I live that I cannot simply ignore it.

There really is so much more to life than simply getting along - just making a living, going to church and little else. There is a real need for the Church of Christ to rouse itself in this country, to begin to not just pray and give money, but to act. God has changed the course of a nation countless times with only a few or even just one devoted servant. There millions of people in America who claim to be Christians, why are we not acting? Why is our society going downhill so quickly? The body of Christ has to take a stand in this country, we have to confront and transform our culture before it is lost.