I love a good debate. I love it when people are willing to discuss an issue with the desire to learn and discover more. My mom taught me to love learning. Growing up, she and I would engage in some pretty intense debates. We’d pick an issue, choose sides, and debate. Even though we usually held the same views on a subject, one of us would play the role of the opposition, and usually would become very passionate in defending that side of the subject. Outsiders would hear us debate and think we were having an intense argument. But we loved it.
While I love discussing an issue, I can’t start arguing. People who simply want to push their opinion without an openness to learn drive me nuts. People like that usually have no clue about why they hold the opinion they do, they simply have always felt that way and watch to argue until you admit defeat.
You see, that’s the difference between a good debate and just arguing. In a debate, you want to make your point, but you also want to gain understanding in the view of others. You want to learn. In an argument, you simply want to win. There’s no desire to learn.
I’ve watched in amusement at how many Americans are responding to Health Care Reform. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I know little about the issue. To be honest, it simply doesn’t matter to me. Health Care in Canada is … well … fine. It could be better, but it certainly could be a lot worse. The thought of someone having to choose between paying rent or seeing a doctor is simply foreign to me. There has never been a single time in my life where I have worried about money before seeing a doctor.
Yesterday, I spent some time reading up on American Health Care Reform. I flipped back and forth between a few channels on television to see what the pundits were saying. Then, I got frustrated and gave up. All I found were people wanting to argue. They would throw out these huge statements, like HCR would be the destruction of America.
At one point, I even whispered to myself, “Is there anyone willing to learn from the other side? Doesn’t anyone want to work together to simply make their country better — whether or not that includes HCR? But all I found were people defending their position, arguing to win against the opposition, and unwilling to actually dialogue. Even on Twitter, some of the statements were so extreme, that I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I use HCR as an example, but the same is true of any topic. We are launching a new series this week at Bikers’ Church called Believe. As I’ll be pointing out this week, it’s time for Christians to stop defending their position by making extreme statements or by trying to win an argument. It’s time to dialogue and be willing to learn from those who criticize our beliefs.
At least that’s my opinion. What’s yours?
