Winsome Conviction

For the past couple of months we’ve been consumed with the presidential election. Yet, we can’t let the issue of race fade into the background. The hardest part of rhetoric is keeping the conversation going. James White—popular Cru speaker, pastor, and member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission on race— joins the conversation in this first segment of Getting Up To Speed. Tim, Rick, and James discuss their different and complex upbringings and draw out the importance of the backstory for acquiring perspective. Putting yourself in another person’s shoes and assuming their point of view is difficult and often resisted. Yet, doing so can be a powerful, formative exercise to help foster understanding, empathy, and civility. This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation with James White on the issue of race. Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/getting-up-to-speed-race-part-1

Dr. Joy Qualls, an expert in political and religious rhetoric, joins Tim and Rick to discuss how polarized news sources contribute to making us polarized people. They give some tips for processing the continuous news stream in ways that foster a fair and balanced approach to political information, and underscore how the Kingdom of God shapes Christian perspective and engagement on political issues.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/choosing-our-news-resisting-political-polarization

"Where do I fit politically?" That's a question more Christians are asking as faith convictions feel at odds with party affiliations and partisan mindsets. Feeling at home with one particular political party is met with increasing discontent. "Political homelessness" seems to be setting in, and our guest today, David French, doesn't think that's a bad thing. In fact, he thinks it's a spiritual blessing (link to dispatch article in link section above). Join Rick, Tim, and David as they discuss "political homelessness" and the ways media can undermine charting a "politically homeless" path.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/on-political-homelessness

Votes for the next president have been cast and one thing is certain—somebody will be happy, and others disheartened. Can a friendship or workplace relationship be preserved with someone who voted differently and holds vastly different beliefs?Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/episode-4-processing-the-election-with-family-friends-co-workers

Can winsomeness be a path to persuasion in today's political climate? What is "informed winsomeness"? David French, political commentator and New York Times best-selling author joins Tim and Rick for a conversation on engaging others winsomely, the importance of humility when we liken ourselves to biblical figures, and the manner of response Christians should take toward incivility and political adversity, especially when facing opponents.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/engaging-others-winsomely

Popular speaker and author, Brene Brown, states: “It’s hard to hate people close up. So, move in.” Communication theorists note that what helps break negative stereotypes the most is, information. How much do we know about the two presidential candidates? Learning the stories of Vice-President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump doesn’t condone their positions, but rather, humanizes them.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/humanizing-thoughts-lead-to-humanizing-communication

What is "the argument culture," and how have we been immersed into it? Tim and Rick unpack four notable characteristics of "the argument culture" and suggest an idea we can practice for turning it around.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/today-s-argument-culture

Incivility is a hallmark of our conversations, both within the Church and across the broader culture. Can we foster conversations that deepen and enrich relationships rather than tear people apart? Tim and Rick highlight how today's argument culture has given rise to the Winsome Conviction podcast.Show notes and a full transcript are available at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/winsome-conviction/2020/winsome-conviction-podcast