Posted: 02/05/08

Responding Like a Christian to Our Writing

Jim Elliff

Those of us who write for this ministry are pretty tough folks. Many of us have been on the battlefield for quite a while and can take almost anything that is said by readers of our articles. This short note to readers is more about my embarrassment for us as a whole than it is my own hide. In short, there should be some etiquette characteristic of believers in reader's responses to articles.  

When reading through responses, I often wonder if those who are outside the faith are looking on. What do they think about the sometimes mean and vindictive words that are used? Or what do new believers think? When they read that tart, angry or demeaning language, are they drawn really being helped toward Christ?

When you read responses from professing believers, you expect a distinctively Christian tone to be heard in the words used. In most cases, we are not enemies, but brothers, seeking to work out the truth. But, frankly, you should not respond even to your enemies the way some of you do. You should not write your notes to us like you intend to bruise us with your words. You should not write so as to put down the person. Rather, love for Christ and for your brothers or sisters should be reflected in kindness and respect, even when you disagree. Try to write with the spirit you expect of your children when they disagree with you.

I don't mean that you cannot be clever. But there is no excuse for being ruthless, even when you disagree. For one thing, you hardly win anybody's heart that way. If you intend to persuade, you must use, as Solomon told us, a little honey.  Or was it Mary Poppins who said that?

Don't expect that the author of the piece you are responding to intended to say everything that can be said about the subject. That's unrealistic. Nobody does that in short articles. Realizing that authors must be selective is helpful when considering what needs to be pointed out to everyone in your response. In most cases, you should keep your comments to what he or she has chosen to write about and not everything else that could have been said.

It is certainly not polite to be long and tedious with your follow-up to the articles. Some quote volumes of Scripture one after another to make their points. Their rejoinders are often longer than the original piece under consideration. They think they will overcome us with their many words. When I see a long argument, I usually skip over it. I'm sure most others do not as well. Such lengthy pontifications are rarely read, in fact.

Some responders cover their own pet agenda time after time. It almost makes no difference what the original article is about. I have a couple of responders that I can almost always count on to press their points. They've got them down pat and hope to wear us down so that we will finally come over to their viewpoint. I don't believe most read their particular comments any more, but these two do read each other's. They sometimes carry on bloody feuds right in front of our eyes! I have to admit that I wonder if these (I'm sure, very fine) persons have way too much time on their hands. It isn't thoughtful of them to use the response space for their favorite subjects.  I find myself almost always unappreciative of such deadening, spirit-killing, doctrinaire diatribes.

All of this does not mean that we should not ever disagree, but that we should do so thoughtfully, with respect. Before writing, read over the original piece once again and see if the author really missed his point so obviously. If so, take the apostle Paul's lead and tell the writer something good about the article first before probing into deeper waters.

Finally, for those less verbal ones who read and benefit from what is written, try your hand at responding to the articles from time to time. Get into the conversation. Be specific about some helpful line or point made. Ask appropriate questions. Make sensitive points, if you disagree, with charity. Do it all to edify and to encourage others to love Christ more from what is being written. Seek the unity of believers and not their harm. You might even pray as you write.

Some authors writing for this ministry might wish to entertain all reactions of any stripe, helpful or unhelpful, just as long as people are at least indicating that they are reading. I know what you are thinking, and there is some merit to the idea. Perhaps you have something to add to what I've written yourself. In my view, no value, however, is above being Christian in all that we do or say. As Paul taught us, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God."

Copyright © Jim Elliff 2008

By Jim Elliff Click here for bio and archived articles