A lot of people are not allowed to openly discuss their thoughts, feelings, opinions, concerns, questions, doubts, and convictions. I have been very fortunate to have grown up in a place and in a family that didn’t make me feel like I couldn’t have questions and discussions about things, even if they were uncomfortable.
The more people I meet, the more I understand that it is very important for people to be able to openly discuss things. If you grow up in an environment that allows you to talk about your problems or ask about anything else you’re curious over, you have the opportunity to understand what you believe and why you believe it. You have the opportunity to learn and be more comfortable with who you are, what you do, and why you believe certain things. You’re more likely to be able to explain to someone else what you’re about and why, and are more likely to keep those beliefs. If you grow up in an environment that does not allow you to talk and ask questions, you may end up being less expressive in general. You may feel shakier and less confident about what you do and believe, and why you do and believe them. You’re less likely to be able to explain what you’re about and why, and are less likely to keep those beliefs.
It is important for Christians to be open to open discussion, even when it’s uncomfortable. We need to find other believers who can answer our questions properly. We also need to be the people who can answer the questions of others properly. We need to be able to explain what we believe and why we believe it. We need to be able to help people find answers to their questions. We need to be able to work together to get answers, whether we’re with other believers or with non-believers.
More on the topic:
Listen to People
Civil Discourse
You Are Allowed to Ask Questions
Challenging Questions
Uncomfortable But Important
Well That’s Stupid