Persuasion and celebration, we confuse the two, in our modern culture. And it is dangerous for us to miss this information.

Are you religious? Whatever you believe, and whoever you are, how does it feel to face the critics? Have you been called names and insulted?

Brace yourself.

We live in a world with rapid communication. Do you remember the time before the Internet and text messages, and a cell phone in everyone’s pocket? No? I have to think back to remember those times.

I remember my family’s black dial phone, and I remember how much I hated answering it when it rang. I would have to hold the phone and try to find the person who was supposed to answer.

We used to shout across the house. Communication was hard work.

In a few decades since then, the world shifted under our feet. The change in technology is interesting, but we might miss the fact that communication among human beings has changed into something we never experienced before.

Note: I am writing this, somewhere. And soon you will read it, probably somewhere else. I know I am already behind the times; I am writing with no voice recording. I like writing, but if I invested in voice recording, I could communicate with many more people, probably thousands more, and they could listen on their cell phones.

I’m thinking about it, and yes, we live in interesting times.

As you read this, do you feel like you are being directed to believe something new, or possibly are we just celebrating what we already like and believe, our prejudices.

There is also the possibility that you don’t agree. I’m OK with that because I can just put you into the first category. Maybe I can persuade you. Hmm …

“Celebration” is like when people who all believe the same thing go for coffee together, or pick any other venue. They all agree, and they enjoy their time together. There might even be some music, and even some cheering.

That is not persuasion, that is reinforcement of what we already believe, celebration. Christian church services are usually like that. People who persuade are called “Evangelists.”

So, here is a video by a critic:

The format seems convenient for small devices, like cell phones, and it presents audio and video, and no writing. This is easy to consume.

Apparently, an innocent person was killed, and we know this is very sad. We don’t need to be persuaded. Because of this sad story, the speaker can say “There is no love like Christian hate!” We are not told what the connection is between the sad story and Christians everywhere, but that argument is not necessary. People who have similar ideas and beliefs as the speaker will be glad for the flag waving.

My opinion is, that the speaker has beliefs and convictions, and he can believe what he chooses. He can also say what he thinks. The fault is not with the speaker, but with the listeners. We need to know who we are and what we believe, and then we can join any celebration that fits us. We can also learn to communicate for persuasion.

We need to know the difference between persuasion and celebration. In our modern culture, because we are losing that ability. The people who wrote the Bible did not have a problem with this concept. They easily recognized celebrating, which they called “scoffing” and they knew it was different from logical persuasion.

Here is one example:

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that … (2 Peter 3: 1 to 5)

You can read the facts that follow, if you are interested. That is persuasion.

We were promised a large amount of scoffing, in the “last days” and we have the communication network to make that happen. We can all sing and boast, and agree together, and disagree with those other people. This is like cheering for our favorite team, during a game. We already believe, and now we are believing together, and maybe putting down other people who cheer for the other team.

Welcome to the 21st century. What we were told in the Bible is coming down on us like a flood.

I hope we can remember who we are and what we are persuaded to believe, in the flood.

If you are interested, here is communication on the persuasion side: