The Love of Argument

So last night, while reading Blue Like Jazz (fantastic book by the way), I had some thoughts about my relationships with other people. I'm a very argumentative person, I admit, so I always try to get people to see things my way.

I have a process while arguing. I have to first make at least three points and reinforce them. Then when the opposing person makes a point, I have to shoot it down (prove it wrong) or accept it as true. It is rarely the latter because I hate being told I'm wrong.

Anyways, I can normally make a point by arguing. What I have failed to do (most of the time) is change the person's view or opinion. Basically, I'm talking about arguing that Christianity is the only way to Heaven. So while I'm explaining how Christianity is a relationship not religion, I come across as fake; like I'm selling Christianity.

Take it from the point of view of a non-Christian. Here's some dude trying to tell me his religion is right. Oh, its a relationship? Obviously not. This dude has no relationship. Its just a way to get me to be 'one of them'.

Seems like I'm being a little fake doesn't it? So back to Blue Like Jazz. I was reading a chapter on love, specifically, how to love others. The point was made that nobody will listen to you unless they think you like them, or love them.

This hit me hard. I wasn't ever really loving people. I was selling Christianity. I had reduced it to a method of points and arguments. There wasn't any love in what I was doing.

I thought long and hard (about 45 minutes) about this. There has to be two conversations that go on in an encounter with any human, regardless of their beliefs.

The first is with the mouth. You can't make a point easily without words, well I can't, at least. Words, though, need to be well thought out and biblically built upon. If you are trying to make a point about about Christianity, try using the book its built on to make it.

The Second conversation is the words of the heart. This is love. This is how someone can tell you like them and how they can tell you are in love with the Lord. Nobody will believe you are in love with Him unless your heart and words show it.

I also questioned whether I was really in love with God. Could I gave been using God as some sort of puppet to get my own way?

Suddenly, it hit me. I started to feel this feeling that God was around me and was holding me and, well I don't know. I then listened to the Phil Wickham song, Divine Romance. This is now my favorite worship song. Your relationship with Christ should be romantic. I'm not saying to go to a fancy diner with the Bible. thats just weird. But if you realize that the Bible is a love letter to you, to everyone willing to except it, then you should fall into this 'divine romance' with Christ.

To close, all relationships need love. Most importantly, your relationship with Christ. But the Bible says to love unconditionally, and that means everyone, regardless of their looks, race, religion, political views or anything. Love unconditionally.