Episode 45. Winsome Conviction (with Tim Muehlhoff & Rick Langer)

In this episode Matt chats with Tim Muehlhoff & Richard Langer about their latest book together, Winsome Conviction, which is all about developing the art of loving people in the church with whom we disagree. They also wrote a book called Winsome Persuasion about how Christians should engage the broader culture in a way that is persuasive, civil, and challenges the cultural assumptions of our day but with love and respect. Where my conversation with Gavin Ortlund (episode 42) is about ranking doctrines in order to recognize what should and shouldn’t divide us, my conversation with Tim & Rick is about how we should respond when our convictions on just about anything differ with fellow believers. We desperately need both frameworks in the church today. ABOUT Tim Muehlhoff (PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a professor of communication at Biola University and is the author of I Beg to Differ and coauthor of Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture. Richard Langer (PhD, University of California, Riverside) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Talbot School of Theology and director of the Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning at Biola University. Together they run The Winsome Conviction Project launched from a heartfelt concern for the toxic, polarized and simply unloving communication climate that is permeating our nation and penetrating the body of Christ. They believe that followers of Christ are obliged to communicate with others in loving ways that preserve human dignity, even as we engage in honest and passionate disagreement. They hope to foster conversations within the church and the broader culture that deepen relationships and enrich lives rather than tear us apart.