The Art of Winsome Persuasion: Engaging Culture as a Christian Counterpublic - w/ Tim Muehlhoff

Oct 30, 2017

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How can Christians effectively reengage today’s divided public square with truth and love, especially when labeled as “fanatics” or shut out of mainstream conversation? Communication expert and Biola professor Tim Muehlhoff joins Mike and Andy to explore practical tools and postures for reclaiming the church’s voice through compassion, credibility, and cognitive complexity. Drawing from his latest book, Winsome Persuasion, Tim shares how Christians can act as a “counterpublic”—a minority voice that influences culture—not by rage or retreat, but through relationship, neighborly love, and civil dialogue.

Key Takeaways: • What Is a Counterpublic? – Understanding the church’s cultural shift from majority to minority voice and how this posture reshapes engagement. • Cognitive Complexity in Practice – Learning to see people and events through a multi-layered lens that goes beyond simplistic labels and judgments. • Winsome Communication Tactics – How Christians can avoid the “argument culture,” instead cultivating conversations marked by empathy and humility. • Prophetic vs. Persuasive Voices – When to speak plainly with truth and when to engage others gently through understanding and relational equity. • Loose Connections and Civic Partnerships – Why churches should collaborate with unlikely allies on shared social concerns and community initiatives.

Guest Highlights: Tim Muehlhoff – Author, tenured professor at Biola University, and passionate communicator about faith, culture, and compassion. Tim’s insights from Winsome Persuasion and his own life experiences (tenure jokes, martial arts metaphors, and Detroit Tigers games included) bring both depth and laughter to vital conversations.

Resources Mentioned: • Winsome Persuasion by Tim Muehlhoff and Rick Langer – IVP Book Link • The Art of Relationships Podcast – Biola CMR Podcast • Talking to People Who Hate Me – Podcast about humanizing hostile disagreement. • Book: The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher • Francis Schaeffer’s Writings – Reflection on America's cultural shifts • Other Books: “I Beg to Differ” by Tim Muehlhoff

Let’s reimagine how we speak into a noisy world with clarity, grace, and compassion. Subscribe to the Voxology Podcast, leave a review, and follow along on socials to join our mission of rediscovering Jesus’s voice for today’s culture.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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