Conflict

Ah, this was has taken a long time to learn.  Conflict has been pretty good to me in my life, personal conflict that is.  I don't know why I expect the same results from arguing  (relational conflict), but I kind of do.  In a way, I guess I learn from arguing, or "discussing" if you think arguing has too much of a negative conotation. 

I started this post firmly thinking that it is pointless to argue, but I think I've begun to clarify that idea in my own mind.  It's pointless to argue if you don't live it out.  Most people do argue in defense of how they are living though, so, hm... How can I explain?  Well, for me, Christianity is something I'm always in defense of and always looking to show to other people, but when it comes to living out the mission of it as well as I can, I don't think I do that as well as I could.  I should definitely be humble enough to reveal that to people, while also not being afraid to show who I am and where I'm at on my journey.

I've argued for Christianity, but I've also seen how futile it is if people don't see what you are arguing for in you.  If people don't know Christ, if you aren't centering the focus on how he lives, then you are focusing on how you live, and people have a tendency to disagree with that.  It's pretty easy to find things you don't like in someone.  I do it all the time, that's pretty much how I disregard someone's argument- if they aren't living the way I want to then I'm not going to agree with their perspective.

I've seen a lot of people do it, at least, that's what I assume their reason is for the most part.  I really hope to lose that judgmental part of me and just focus on living the way Christ lived and not really arguing with anyone about how they should live their life but rather who they should live their life for.