Promoting Civil Discourse in a Culture of Outrage

Speaking the Truth in Love

I’m guessing nobody has to be told that we live in a culture of outrage. If you’re not convinced, just turn on the news or glance at the comments section on any online platform. Express an opinion, and someone will bash you for being wrong. Stay silent, and they’ll bash you for being apathetic. Choose a side, and the other side will call you close-minded and ignorant. Suggest that both sides make valid points, and both sides will bash you for validating their opponents.

In a culture like that, what’s a Christian to do? We are called to share and defend our faith (Mark 16:15; 1 Peter 3:15), but when everyone is screaming and no one is listening, how can we effectively fulfill that command? It’s a complicated question with no simple answers. Every situation is unique, making one-size-fits-all solutions impossible. However, there are some simple tactics you can employ that can keep the dialogue civil and make your witness more effective.

1. Don’t catch the bug! Outrage is contagious; if one person emotionally escalates a conversation, others will follow suit. But when we get angry, we stop listening, and our focus moves from the issue being discussed to the person we’re discussing it with. In logic this is called an ad hominem fallacy—when our arguments become directed at the person rather than the position or opinion they hold. Remember, we are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and anger does not strengthen our arguments—it only isolates us from those we wish to reach (James 1:20).

2. Stay focused, and prioritize. Any parent knows the importance of letting trivial issues go, and saving the battles for what really matters. In Titus 3:9 Paul says the same thing: “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” A common debate tactic used by atheists and skeptics is to distract Christians from the main point with ridiculous and irrelevant side-arguments. This is called a red herring, and it’s important to let it go and stay focused.

3. Choose your battlefield. Nobody goes to social media seeking to have their mind changed. Rather, it is well documented that people “curate” their media feeds to create echo chambers of their own beliefs. Additionally, the distance and anonymity granted by the internet allows people to behave in ways most of them would never act in person when those beliefs are challenged. This can lead to slander, name-calling, verbal abuse, and even threats, with absolutely nothing fruitful resulting from it. So, before you dive into that trending social media bloodbath, stop and ask yourself whether this is really the most productive field on which to pitch your battle.

4. Be the adult. Don’t assume everyone else will remain calm. Consciously choose to be the one maintaining the climate of the conversation. Usually, this is very simple. An atheist once challenged a creation-based photo I posted, and it was obvious by the tone of his remarks that things could easily escalate. So I followed my response to his scientific critique with a gentle “Hi, by the way. Nice to meet you. (Seems uncivilized to launch into a debate without introducing ourselves.)”. He immediately apologized for his rudeness, politely introduced himself, and continued the debate without further issue. It only took one comment from me to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. It won’t always work that way; some people will be enraged no matter what you do. That is not your problem. Your job is still to promote an atmosphere of respectful discourse, and is itself a witness of Whose you are (1 Peter 3:16).

5. Be the Christian. Atheists are very quick to ridicule “Christian love” for harsh, thoughtless, or hateful things that Christians have said online or in person. There are entire blogs dedicated to mocking Christian hypocrisy, with links, videos, and screenshots to back their accusations up. Don’t be the one they’re quoting. Be absolutely certain that, whatever you say or do, you do it with kindness and respect.

Conclusion: None of this means that we should compromise our message. Truth does not change, even if it is culturally offensive, so we must stand fast for the truth of the Bible. Unfortunately, this will often result in accusations of intolerance, hate speech, etc., no matter how kindly, tactfully, or respectfully it is said. That is not our problem either; Jesus guaranteed us that the world would hate us because it hated Him first, and hated His message (John 15:17-20). But in a world that keeps on screaming louder and louder, someone has to be the calm and quiet voice of reason. And I can’t think of anyone better to do that than the people who follow the ultimate Voice of reason, the One who spoke the world into existence, the still small Voice that came after the wind and the fire (1 Kings 19:11-12).