Games. I’m tired of them. Publicists, politicians, spokesmen, spokeswomen, and leaders of many industries are busy playing them. What games are they playing? The game of talking points. The game of saying some things, but not saying anything at all. The game of regurgitating what was given to them by spin doctors and speechwriters.
We all know when it’s happening. The games have gone on in the public eye as long as there has been one, but now they are taking over our personal social circles. I suppose it’s always gone on this way. We hear a talking head regurgitate some talking points about whatever issue is at hand and then we regurgitate it down the hall to our coworkers and then to our family and friends at home. We listen long enough to get the talking point so we can know what our opinions are and then we move on – I’ve got that issue figured out! But the problem with the games we play and the talking points we regurgitate is this: they are killing our ability to hear.
Talking Points Are Killing Our Ability to Hear
Talking points ignore complexities. They are short, succinct, and designed to be able to silence the other side. They are not designed to reach any kind of results or solutions – except winning the argument. Talking points ignore the depth we must often go to in order to understand the issues that confront us in our culture.[shareable]Talking points ignore complexities.[/shareable]
Instead of engaging in healthy conversations, we end up experiencing the frustration of feeling like time, energy, and breath was just wasted. Why did I just waste my time? goes through our minds. Then we give up on the issue. We refuse to not only speak, but then we refuse to listen. I know what you’re going to say, you know what I’m going to say, neither one us will hear the other person, so what’s the point?!
Has this been your experience?
My generation, the millennials has been characterized as anti-authority. I’m not sure that this is accurate. But what I do know is accurate is that we are used to the games of advertisers, marketers, and salesman. We’ve been sold to from the day we were born. We don’t so much trust the news and we don’t so much trust the systems that are in place that make our society go. Many of us have an angst about how things are and we want to see things improve in this world. And we know that nothing will change (in any area of life) if talking points continue to reign supreme.
We Shouldn’t Be Surprised By the Infatuation With Talking Points
Think about this: our ability to regurgitate has been developed from day 1 of pre-school. Much of our education is geared toward standardized tests that are dominated by regurgitation. We haven’t been taught to think, we have just been taught to repeat.[shareable]We haven’t been taught to think, we have just been taught to repeat.[/shareable]
We all have.
Repeating is easy. It gives us the illusion of thinking we dealt with a real issue in a real way.
Thinking is hard. It gives us the reality that life is more complex than we think it is. And that can, often times, be scary.
Our infatuation with talking points is embedded within us. It takes some uninstalling to gain the ability to hear again.
Talking Points Are Simply Pontifications
No one makes talking points that they think are going to be proven wrong. They think they are right. That’s why they are points to be shared. This is why talking points are killing our ability to hear… If you think you are right in the matter you won’t consider the other side. You’ll regurgitate, repeat, repeat, and repeat while the other person does the same (only with opposing talking points).
Could it be that the truth is in a third option? Probably.
A Better Option Than Opposing Talking Points
James, the half brother of Jesus said this: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19, ESV). This verse can be applied to any and every interaction you as a Jesus follower have. It can be applied to how we approach our interactions with God, our spouse, our kids, our friends, our co-workers, and strangers.
Talking points aren’t quick to hear. They are quick to speak. That’s their point. They are meant to make… a point. Hence the name.[shareable]Talking points aren’t quick to hear. They are quick to speak.[/shareable]
We, though, my beloved readers… We are to do something different. Be quick to hear because when we are quick to hear, we are quick to understand. And then, and only then, can we begin to speak with words that have the potential to bridge divides, to solve problems, and to have real conversations.
When one side isn’t being heard, that side will exit the conversation and when that happens, the potential for a solution exits with them.
A Divided World Begins in Our Hearts
Our world has always experienced division. There have always been wars, animosity, hatred, and malice. But it is now that God has done something unique. He has brought His kingdom to bear on this earth through His people – the Church. And for that reason, we can begin to show this world what love looks like because Christ did not just come to save, but He has come and is here – dwelling in His people.
If we are to see glimpses of light, we must allow the light of Christ to reflect off us and shine in a dark, talking point infested world.
So the next time you begin to witness talking points escape from your mouth to the direction of another person, reach out, grab them, and put them away. Instead, be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. All the while, when it comes time to speak, think beyond a point and work toward a solution that takes into account the complexities that face whatever it is that you are talking about whether it’s a cultural crisis or the latest political happening in this crazy season.
This is my struggle. This is our struggle.
Let’s start hearing again.
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