Comments on: Can You Change My Mind? Can I Change Yours?

By: David

David — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 13:16:41 +0000

Perhaps we can’t change someone else’s mind when we are alienated from each other, assuming the other is wrong and we are right, and we think we are making some kind of medical or humantarian intervention. Perhaps the first step is to find common ground and togetherness. While working together towards a common goal, all of our minds will be changed (in different ways). As you concluded, love and trust are more important than agreement.

By: floyd

floyd — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 18:10:54 +0000

Good stuff. I think you’re, and your friend’s, approach is the beginning of change. It takes humility to not have that burning quest to be right. And that, at least in my life, has been the beginning of change for everyone, including me…

By: Jean Wise

Jean Wise — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 20:27:27 +0000

This is an important topic that needs to be on the front burner of every conversation. So interesting what you shared. We see the world and hear others through so many filters that block true heart to heart discussion. Maybe more listening and trying to understand their point of view is the first step.

By: BettieG

BettieG — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 19:08:21 +0000

These are all such excellent thoughts Lisa. And truly, I feel that only the Spirit of God can change our minds in matters of the heart. He holds all truth, and I have found out that I am not able to bring that change unless HE has already begun the process of softening and stirring. Even in myself, when I want to change my mind, I can’t do that either. I’ve just gone back to my old ways, until I allow Him to soften my own heart, and He reshapes and transforms my mind. Even the willingness to change is a gift from Him. Thanks for these reminders today, to love and to pray.

By: Karen Friday

Karen Friday — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 00:45:51 +0000

Hey Lisa, this is a real eye-opening post. W ofen convince ourselves that we can change someone else’s mind when rational ideas and sometimes even facts are presented to them. Because we see and understand the plausible reasons to believe, we think everyone should be able to do this too. But as you point out, that rarely happens. In the end, loving in disagreement and realizing that if it’s not essential to eternal things and the gospel, then we should be able to agreeably disagree in love. A Bible study teacher said this once and she got it from someone:

In essentials: Unity
In non-essentials: Liberty
In all things: Charity

By: Angie B.

Angie B. — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 18:24:26 +0000

Oh goodness, is there a more timely post? As you well wrote above, right now our country (and actually this is spreading to other countries too) is a place where if you experience a different opinion garners you all sorts of labels. I am that person who tried the “here is a link that may shed more light”. talk about backfiring. This is why– aside from social media where I share my flowers– I left social media especially Twitter. Talk about a chance to bring out the worst in you in 140 characters. I just decided that the people who truly matter and have a direct impact in my life, are the ones I know in person. Plus I really did not like the me that would get way too passionate about various topics. Wonderful post, Lisa!

By: Barbara Harper

Barbara Harper — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 18:08:05 +0000

I’ve changed my mind often over the last few years. Sometimes a new fact, or more often, a new perspective sheds enough light to cause me to realize I’ve been wrong in my information and understanding. But other times I’m pretty sure it’s the other person who is wrong. 🙂 I have some friends and relatives like you described at the end–we’ve talked over an issue and remained in our opposite views. The issue isn’t something to break fellowship over, but it’s no use to keep going over it, either. Romans 14 helped me a lot in that regard: people of opposite viewpoints on some issues both did what they did as unto the Lord. It’s a kindness to try to gently persuade someone if they are wrong about the way of salvation, who Jesus is, etc., if they’re receptive, but there are so many other areas where we can “agree to disagree” and let it go.

By: Martha J Orlando

Martha J Orlando — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 14:46:17 +0000

I’m a person who likes to get the facts from more than one source before changing, or not changing, my mind. I’ve ceased to try to change the minds of others, especially in these contentious times. I’d much rather show them love and respect while gently disagreeing with their opinions.
And one thing I’ll NEVER change my mind about is God’s love!
Blessings, Lisa!

By: Sheltie Times

Sheltie Times — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:46:26 +0000

I think observing how people live their beliefs is far more powerful than telling someone about those beliefs. I’m always more inclined to see a different point of view when I can see how that different belief system is lived in action rather than being told why mine needs to change.

If I think beliefs that have changed in my life over the years it’s rarely been because of what people told me I was doing/believing wrong but what I observed in others that I came to accept might be different from what I previously believed or understood. Even if I didn’t adopt those beliefs I found I could support others when I could see the purpose of the belief rather than a lecture from someone on it.

I do think we can and should do more to accept that we can live in harmony with many more differences than we think we can as long as we start with respect for each other. We often can find more in common and learn to live with the differences more easily when we start with the premise we don’t need to change everyone to our way of thinking.

By: Pam Ecrement

Pam Ecrement — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 13:20:09 +0000

You chose a great topic and a vital one. I have been watching this reality unfold in recent years and been the one trying to change someone’s mind as well as the one someone else is trying to change. Neither was usually effective.

My observations have begun to cause me to believe a number of things at present: 1) our positions have very little to do with facts many times and more to do with values dear to us, biases we may have, how life has impacted us over our history, etc.,; 2) this great polarization of thinking, feeling, and believing is so divisive across the board that I cannot help but conclude this is a spiritual warfare issue where the spirit of anti-Christs are hard at work to create what we see, feel, and live in the midst of; and 3) too often when we try to change someone else’s mind, the message underneath the other person gets is that we are proud and believe we know more and are better in some way and this automatically puts the person on the defense that only gets more rigid if I keep pushing and insisting it is I who is right.

This has led me to not seek to change the minds of others by my arguments or facts and to live out my beliefs and values in such a way that may speak louder than my words. And last (but should be first), to silently whisper a prayer to the Lord about how I should respond to the person trying to change my mind and what I should say and only to seek to change theirs if He leads clearly.

These may not be the answers, but it is where I am currently. I don’t want to keep adding to the fuel that fires more and more division without hearing from the Lord I am to wade in.