{"id":13424,"date":"2020-10-27T14:47:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T22:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/?p=13424"},"modified":"2026-03-10T18:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T22:16:07","slug":"how-to-communicate-during-election-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/how-to-communicate-during-election-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Communicate During Election Season (and Other Situations Where You\u2019re Tempted to Be a Jerk)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cWhat is<\/em> that? It smells like something died in here,\u201d my friend bellowed after we got in my car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d definitely noticed an odor coming from my car\u2019s trunk before that weekend (though I don\u2019t remember how long I\u2019d been aware of it). However, after my friend Diane and I drove four hours to my sister\u2019s house for Fourth of July and then left my car sitting in the hot Saturday sun, the stench was too much. Upon investigation, I discovered a liquified onion in a grocery bag in the corner of my trunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometime before, I let another friend borrow my car. She\u2019d texted me to let me know she\u2019d left a bag of food in the trunk for me. She also reminded me to bring it inside. I never did. (I might have a procrastination problem.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it stunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I think about the conversations Christians are having about politics, I cringe. No, I actually want to bang my head into some drywall and scream into a void. I also think of the onion in my car, and here\u2019s why: most Christians believe in speaking the truth in love. However, for some reason when it comes to politics, we\u2019re ok leaving that idea in the trunk. We like the idea<\/em> of love in all areas, but we\u2019re not going to bring it to certain conversations. It\u2019s like we get this selective moral amnesia: we\u2019ll argue for voting a certain way on the basis of morality, and completely leave behind the need for morality in the way we treat those with whom we disagree. Everyone will start taking sides and slinging mud, and it\u2019s like Red Rover but with insults and sarcastic memes. And things are beginning to stink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He knew that nobody forgets their opinions, but we do forget to bring love out of the dark corners of our hearts and into our conversations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This shouldn\u2019t be surprising though, since Jesus told us that, as the end of time draws nearer, the love of many will grow cold. But He also exhorted us to endure in love. He knew that nobody forgets their opinions, but we do forget to bring love out of the dark corners of our hearts and into our conversations. So, in light of that exhortation, here are six principles of loving communication to practice as you navigate conversations about the election, and, well, really anything controversial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Affirm where you can<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have become all things to all men . . . \u2013 Paul, the apostle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to have a constructive, helpful discussion about anything with a person of opposite opinion, you have to learn to find common ground. People listen and can actually become quite open to critique when they feel understood. You can do this by finding points of agreement wherever you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might be thinking, \u201cDid she just say find common ground with a [insert opposite political party]?!\u201d Yes, because the fact is, that\u2019s how people work, including you. Think about when you express your opinion. If someone quickly jumps in and tells you why you\u2019re wrong, you\u2019re not likely to respond with, \u201cMan, now that I\u2019ve been intellectually bullied into a corner, I definitely feel compelled to change my mind on this complex and highly controversial topic.\u201d So, when you generously correct someone else\u2019s delusional thinking on Facebook without taking the time to find points of agreement, you\u2019re probably not going to get that response either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common ground is like grey hair: there\u2019s actually a lot more of it than most of us realize or want to admit, and we usually find it when we start looking at people\u2019s hearts. If you\u2019re a Republican and you think your grandchild has become a crazy communist\/social justice warrior, you can say something like, \u201cWow, you really have a passion to advocate for those who\u2019ve been hurt. That\u2019s beautiful.\u201d If you\u2019re passionate about reforming the police and you\u2019re talking to a friend who believes in Blue Lives Matter, you can affirm the fact that we need to support good police officers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes effort and intentionality to find points of connection, but none of us is above the process, as we have the example of a selfless, all-powerful, all-knowing, omni-present Jesus, who was incarnate for each one of us. No one could have had less in common with you, and yet He came to walk in your shoes. When there wasn\u2019t common ground, He made some. This doesn\u2019t mean we compromise our values or don\u2019t speak up for what we believe in. It means we start by letting people know that we believe they have good hearts, they are intelligent children of God, and we are all part of the same family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We already know what divides us. Let\u2019s also remember what connects us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Listen to understand, not to respond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. \u2013 King Solomon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all know listening is important, but usually what we call listening is only us waiting for our turn to talk. Or us responding to our emotional triggers instead of what the person is actually saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real listening means you shut up, resist the urge to interrupt, make eye contact, nod your head, and say things like, \u201cMhmm.\u201d (If that\u2019s hard, just pretend you\u2019re eating a sandwich.) Then think <\/em>about what they\u2019re actually <\/em>saying. Don\u2019t think about what you\u2019re going to say back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once someone\u2019s finished explaining their point of view to you, respond with something like, \u201cI want to make sure I understand clearly. It sounds like you\u2019re saying [repeat back in your own words what you think they said]. Is that right?\u201d And then let them correct or affirm. Let them keep explaining. Be generous with your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real listening also means you don\u2019t simplify people. Let them be as complicated and messy as they truly are, because we all are. The media has sold us a lie that in life you can only be one way or another: liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. If you care about the unborn, you can\u2019t care about the environment. If you\u2019re passionate about racial reconciliation, then you can\u2019t care about the unborn. But people are never that simple, and, as one of my friends put it, it\u2019s \u201cintellectual laziness\u201d to think so. God made us all incredibly complex and beautiful. We are each unique mashups of our family history, genetics, trauma, life experiences, culture, ethnicity, and so much more. So, as you listen to someone, remember that they are a person, not a profile. Resist the urge to label or write them off because they said something that sounds like the people or party you don\u2019t like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By truly listening, not only can you learn new things about the opposing side\u2019s view, but you also help the person you\u2019re talking with feel safe and more willing<\/em> to hear what you<\/em> have to say. Remember: God gave you two<\/em> ears and only one <\/em>mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Maybe don\u2019t respond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath . . . <\/em>\u2013 <\/em>James, the apostle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This point builds on the last one. When you\u2019re talking about something controversial, sometimes the best thing to do is not to share your opinion at all. This is difficult, because if someone expresses an erroneous view on an issue, it\u2019s obviously always our job to quickly correct them, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes down to treating others how you\u2019d want to be treated. We become the most teachable when we feel the most loved, and people feel loved when they feel heard. So sometimes\u2014not all the time\u2014the best thing to do is let someone share their point of view and save your opinion for another day. This year has been exhausting for everyone, and we all need to be heard sometimes without someone telling us why we\u2019re wrong or picking apart our emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People are drawn to what they can\u2019t have. So sometimes the best way to share your opinion is not to.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another benefit to withholding your opinion is that it can have a magnetic effect in a controversial conversation. Here\u2019s what I mean. Social media has basically become a chronic case of opinion-diarrhea. Everyone is shouting you\u2019re wrong! You\u2019re wrong! You\u2019re wrong! <\/em>So, if you give someone the space to freely express their views, but you wait for another time to share yours\u2014maybe you listen thoughtfully and say, \u201cWow, that\u2019s really interesting. Thanks so much for sharing that with me! Do you wanna make baklava?\u201d\u2014it can build curiosity. Why are they not telling me why I\u2019m wrong? Everyone responds to this topic. They\u2019re not saying anything. This is weird. What <\/em>do they think?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, if they ask about your point of view, the conversation dynamic changes<\/em>. You\u2019re not pushing your view on them. They\u2019ve asked for it, and it\u2019s often easier to communicate something hard if someone has asked for the information themselves rather than you volunteering it. People are drawn to what they can\u2019t have. So sometimes the best way to share your opinion is not to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Don\u2019t be rude, sarcastic, or argue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world . . . \u2013 Paul, the apostle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a society that values comebacks and clapbacks over kindness and courtesy. We applaud the guy with the last word. The irony is our instincts tell us this is the way to win, but, as Bob Goff, author of Love Does<\/em>, put it, \u201cNo one has ever been argued into a change of heart.\u201d The moment a conversation turns argumentative or you start making fun at the expense of someone\u2019s ideals or values, the chances of actually convincing them of the validity of your view drops drastically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way you can check yourself when posting and commenting online is to ask, If I were having a face-to-face conversation, would I say this?<\/em> This isn\u2019t a perfect safeguard, since some of us don\u2019t know how to be kind in person either, but it can help. Think about it. Imagine you just met someone at church and you\u2019re talking and getting to know each other. They share some life advice they find meaningful, but you don\u2019t see eye-to-eye with the philosophy. In that scenario, you likely wouldn\u2019t jump in and say, \u201cWow! That\u2019s toxic!\u201d or \u201cI can\u2019t believe people say such insensitive platitudes.\u201d Yet this is essentially what we do online all the time.<\/em> The temptation to become monsters of self-righteousness skyrockets when we\u2019re safely hidden behind our screens, shielded from the real-time reactions and lives of the real people reading our hurtful comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you really are as passionate about an issue or candidate as you think you are, don\u2019t be mean. Arguing with someone in a conversation face-to-face, posting sarcastic memes, or ranting in the Facebook comments might make you feel like you\u2019ve won, but you\u2019re really only pulling out the rug from under your own feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Give more grace than you think you need to when communicating online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted . . . \u2013 Paul, the apostle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This point definitely goes for face-to-face conversations as well, but online communication needs special consideration. In addition to not being mean when communicating online, we need to be intentional about giving lots of grace, both when writing our own posts and when interpreting others\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On social media platforms, no one can hear our tone of voice or read our facial expressions or body language, which make up the lion\u2019s share of communication. Please read that sentence again. People can\u2019t see or hear you and you can\u2019t hear or see them. <\/em>So, a post that you think sounds merely informative and non-mean, can easily come off as brusque and dismissive without you ever intending it to. A post you find horribly offensive might not be nearly as bad as you think were you to see and hear the person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember people write casually. They forget to use punctuation when they write a caption. They\u2019re tweeting under the influence of their day-to-day lives and emotions. They’re sitting in an Uber, their boss is yelling at them, they\u2019re trying to juggle screaming babies while making dinner. So when you are offended by a post online, remember there is an Everest-sized mountain of information you don\u2019t know,<\/em> and let that inform the way you respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much differently would we tweet back if we could see the life stories surrounding the 280 characters we were offended by? Probably a lot. But we can\u2019t see those stories. So, let\u2019s be kinder and more understanding than we think we need to be, definitely in person, but especially online\u2014turn the dial way up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Come with humility and empathy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. \u2013Paul, the apostle<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bus driver who worked for the boarding academy I attended once said in a worship talk, \u201cWe sin the most when we\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you talk with others, be humble. It is<\/em> possible for you to be wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can make an idol out of our own rightness, and when we do, we start treating each other horribly. In her 2011 TED Talk titled, \u201cOn Being Wrong,\u201d1<\/sup> American journalist Kathryn Schulz breaks down three unfortunate assumptions we make about people when they disagree with us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. They\u2019re ignorant. If someone doesn\u2019t see an issue like we do, they must not have all the same information, because if they did, they would be on our side.<\/li>
  2. If they\u2019re educated on a topic, but they still disagree with us, then we assume they must be morons. They have the same information as we do, but they\u2019re just not smart enough to put the pieces together.<\/li>
  3. If someone is educated and<\/em> intelligent, but they still disagree with us, then we assume they must be evil. They know what\u2019s true, but they won\u2019t admit it because they\u2019re terrible people.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Jumping to these conclusions causes us to treat each other in the most un-Christlike of ways. But the big problem comes when you meet someone who clearly loves God, knows the Bible, is intelligent, displays selfless love, but still disagrees with you. What do you do? And what do you do if you meet lots of those someones? Do you write them all off as ignorant, idiotic, or selfish? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The bus driver who worked for the boarding academy I attended once said in a worship talk, \u201cWe sin the most when we\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Or do you start to realize that it\u2019s possible for you to be wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or that there are usually more than two sides to the issues closest to our hearts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or that maybe there is truth in both sides and that there is righteousness in the tension of both perspectives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And that there is so much you don\u2019t know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Bible is full of people who were sure God was definitely on their side only to find out Jesus was on the other side of the line they drew. Peter was sure he would always stick up for Jesus. The twelve were sure that if you weren\u2019t following Jesus with them<\/em>, then you weren\u2019t following Jesus at all. The Pharisees were convinced there was no way a carpenter\u2019s son could be the Messiah. At some point, the holiest move for each of them to make was to admit they were wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t make an idol out of your certainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And even if someone is wrong (because there are absolute truths), believe the best about their heart. Remember it\u2019s possible for someone to have pure motives and make wrong conclusions. But shaming them for those conclusions won\u2019t help correct them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2026it\u2019s possible for someone to have pure motives and make wrong conclusions. But shaming them for those conclusions won\u2019t help correct them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Take time first to understand their story and empathize. You don\u2019t have to agree with someone\u2019s conclusion to understand where they came from and say, \u201cYeah, I\u2019ve been there too\u201d or \u201cWow, I can totally see how you\u2019d feel that way.\u201d If you take the time to understand the journey that brought a person to where they are, you\u2019ll likely find it\u2019s because they\u2019ve been driven by a mixture of faulty human love, fear, and selfishness, just like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s prioritize humility and empathy as much as we prioritize voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In conclusion, what I\u2019m basically trying to say is don\u2019t let your love be like a rotten onion you forgot in your car and is now stinking up your conversations. Bring love not just into what you believe, but how you believe it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Don\u2019t just be right in your ideas. Be right in your spirit, your words, and actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s endure in love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Kathryn Schulz, \u201cOn Being Wrong,\u201d TED<\/em>, April 26, 2011, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QleRgTBMX88<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u201cWhat is that? It smells like something died in here,\u201d my friend bellowed after we got in my car. I\u2019d definitely noticed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/How_to_Communicate_During_Election_Season.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paAh8r-3uw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13424"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15521,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13424\/revisions\/15521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightbearers.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}