 |
| LOVE>HATE |
[Truer words were never spoken:]
When we speak publicly, we open ourselves up to both public praise and public criticism. Everybody has that right and opportunity. But when we use that opportunity to call people out, we must understand that we are risking aggravating the situation.
I am speaking for my own benefit about this as well. I deeply regret the many times that I have violated the guidelines below and the damage that resulted.
How to avoid escalation of a conflict:
- Never pre-emptively attack.
- Never retaliate.
- Say as much good about your adversaries as you can.
- Be clear about specific actions that people took (past-tense only) that bothered you.
- Never call people out publicly unless you have done EVERYTHING in your power to resolve the matter privately. (See Matthew 18)
- Never call people out publicly unless you have other people who are actively and publicly holding you accountable (meaning that your relationship to them is easily verifiable using public sources and in that relationship it is clear that they have the power to reprimand you if you behave inappropriately) for such action.
- Never speak out against anyone's sin unless you are simultaneously being honest about your own (current) sinfulness.
#PayGreceForward
![Dr. W. H. Cotton’s ode: “Oh, My Lake Worth, Florida!” [circa 1920].](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL75cv6zJQFjX15ojOIIz9AjnbqH4asHJTYSDhnGnYr7rJZRha1NcNTirj2xPcId158vkz5Hw-wXgOfrlztj8Zr8jLFFCfuEN6PyV44ZlpMRmJ68xbtFL9vzxNiG7xDs_HJvm/s1600/LakeWorthPioneers.JPG)
