What I've learned from 11 years of talking with Manitobans about God...

As I sit down to write this blog entry, I've just wrapped up my last show as co-host of GodTalk on CJOB 68. (For audio of some of the best moments - click here) I'm very excited to see my co-host of the last two years, Greg Glatz from Central Baptist Church, move the show into the future along with Melissa McEachern of Family Life Network. So what has eleven years of talking about God with Manitobans taught me?

First of all, I've learned that personal beliefs matter. People live out of particularity not generalities and the best conversations happen when the particulars are invited to the table. It was in the 18th show, only a few months in, when I booked Charles Templeton for a live phone interview from his home in Toronto. Templeton had garnered some of Canada's highest journalistic achievements and wrote "Farewell to God" as his final tome. I was speaking with a man who had once worked side by side with Billy Graham and now was vehement in his denial of a loving God. His personal account of a shift to agnosticism was gripping and I realized that night that talking about God is very real and very personal. I offered my particular belief in Jesus Christ alongside of his agnosticism and the phone lines lit up. Particular beliefs are more interesting than general statements.

I've also learned that dignity is worth it. The term "Christian tolerance" has always fascinated me. I've heard people say those two words are a contradiction in terms. I think that has to do with how people have experienced some Christians. It is my Christian belief in a Savior that gives me freedom to speak with anyone about anything. I recall one Easter when we invited a wiccan onto the show and her first comment as she walked in was, "I guess this is the day the pagans get thrown to the lions." For some reason she was predisposed to a certain kind of treatment. I suggested we really simply wanted to hear what she believed. The conversation spanned an hour and as she left the studio, she said she had never had an experience like this before and would be delighted to come back anytime. We parted as friends. What fascinated me was that the conversation had included some of the most intense caller questions and in studio comparison of Christian and pagan worldviews to date. Seems dignity does not need to be sacrificed in the face of difference.

Perhaps this is self-evident but I've noticed that two-way conversations are more engaging than one-way conversations. In fact, when something is one-way, by definition, it's not a conversation at all. I remember a caller who told me one night that Jesus told us to evangelize, not to have a dialogue. I can appreciate his interest in following Jesus' invitation to give witness to the life that is found in knowing God personally, but I just haven't come across any way of sharing faith outside of a relational context. In my experience, information dumps seem to be ignored or written off as bigotry. Until further notice, I'm going to pursue meaningful relationships out of which conversations emerge. Interestingly enough, when someone asks a question, it gives us permission to be as specific as we want.

One Truth that has given me the courage to keep going back on air every Sunday night is that the Holy Spirit is a really good talker. John 16:8,13 NLT says, "8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment...13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard." Seems my role is to foster an environment of dignity and care that validates people's questions, such that the real talking can happen. Keith phoned in one night to thank us for a previous conversation when he had queried if the Canada Moose were on Noah's Ark. Then recounted to us that he had discovered his faith once again. I knew who he'd really been talking with in the months between those two calls.

To the extent that I have... ... evoked laughter in one person to smile for just a fleeting moment, ...provoked in one person a God-thought to ponder the mystery and meaning of life, ...inspired one person to see beauty in the ordinary people on their street, ...offered hope to one person to live another day...

To that extent...I look back with gratitude, joy and satisfaction.

What has given me the freedom to engage any and all conversations, is that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. It's been a privilege to foster an open conversation about the living God. Join Greg Glatz, the rocknroll preacher and Melissa McEachern Sunday night from 9-11pm. This conversation is just getting started...