Approaches to apologetics

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brgregmack

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Is raising one’s voice necessarily a bad thing in an apologetic argument?

I’m curious to hear what people have to say as I discern where I need the most improvement in my skills to plant seeds.
 
I guess it would be according to why you raise your voice. If you lose your temper, then you’ve already lost the argument. At that point it’s always best to walk away and regather yourself. If it’s because a train is going by and they can’t hear you then it’s fine 😉
 
brgregmack said:
Is raising one’s voice necessarily a bad thing in an apologetic argument?

I’m curious to hear what people have to say as I discern where I need the most improvement in my skills to plant seeds.
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As a rule I would say yes it is a bad thing. Unless of course you are standing next to a railroad track…😃

Seriously - I cannot think of a situation where raising your voice - getting louder - is a good thing.

Now if I can only follow my own advice…😊

Peace
James
 
I believe that sometimes it’s necessary to raise your voice to control the argument.

But In reality I think that keeping a humble voice is better than having a loud voice as a preacher. There is a saying I once heard. I believe it goes like this. “It be better for a man to show signs of works through love than to have a voice of a preacher”. Showing works of love works more than having a loud voice.
And they said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery.
Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou?
And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground.
When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground.
But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?
11 Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.
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In this verse you know that Jesus bowed down his head and wrote on the ground (Sand).
Jesus didn’t raise his voice but became silent and wrote on the sand, and when he talked again, he spoke with a low voice. He knew that by speaking humbly you have already won the argument. He didn’t give a big explanation, but rather he gave a simple but powerful statement. “Let he amongst you who is without sin be the one to cast a stone at her”. He knew that no one was without sin.
 
What if the raising of the volume is in order to stress a point?
 
brgregmack said:
What if the raising of the volume is in order to stress a point?
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This might be appropriate, but there are other ways as well. Speaking more slowly and distinctly with firm, direct, eye contact is one.

Peace
James
 
But ultimately, one needs to concentrate on being a good friend regardless of apologetic skills. I guess in the moment I tend to forget this:blush::whistle:
 
I would say it is not a good idea to raise your voice. Religion is a very volitile subject and one misinterpretation of you raising your voice could result in a good debate melting down to real animosity.

Points shouldn’t need to be loud to be heard and understood.
 
Question - are you trying to ‘drown them out’ or convince them of a point?
Beating them into submission may make them quiet, but it won’t show them the Holy Spirit
brgregmack said:
Is raising one’s voice necessarily a bad thing in an apologetic argument?

I’m curious to hear what people have to say as I discern where I need the most improvement in my skills to plant seeds.
Click to expand...
 
tarboy said:
Question - are you trying to ‘drown them out’ or convince them of a point?
Beating them into submission may make them quiet, but it won’t show them the Holy Spirit
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“Beating them into submission”- yeah, I’ve been guilty of that:blush:, but thankfully the guy is a good enough friend to tell me directly that he felt like we were going in circles and I’ve since improved to just sit back and answer whatever questions he has to the best of my ability or point him to a more qualified source.

I’ve read through The Emotions God Gave You, and I think my tendency to raise my voice to be more forceful with new people may have some past hurt connected with it.🤷

I’m working… and praying.

Also, what do you mean by ‘drown them out’? Do you mean increasing the volume to get them to quiet down when the other person is out of control???
 
Raising your voice is a form of intimidation, or bullying.
So when you drown them out, you win the argument because you had a louder stereo rather than you played music sweet to their ears.
The holy spirit is not guiding you when you take this tactic

The exception to this might be if you were doing public oratory, where some parts need a forecful delivery, for effect
brgregmack said:
“Beating them into submission”- yeah, I’ve been guilty of that:blush:, but thankfully the guy is a good enough friend to tell me directly that he felt like we were going in circles and I’ve since improved to just sit back and answer whatever questions he has to the best of my ability or point him to a more qualified source.

I’ve read through The Emotions God Gave You, and I think my tendency to raise my voice to be more forceful with new people may have some past hurt connected with it.🤷

I’m working… and praying.

Also, what do you mean by ‘drown them out’? Do you mean increasing the volume to get them to quiet down when the other person is out of control???
Click to expand...
 
tarboy said:
Raising your voice is a form of intimidation, or bullying.
So when you drown them out, you win the argument because you had a louder stereo rather than you played music sweet to their ears.
The holy spirit is not guiding you when you take this tactic

The exception to this might be if you were doing public oratory, where some parts need a forecful delivery, for effect
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Thanks for this clarification. I’ve been guilty of that too. In a way, I think I’ve justified various occasions of doing so while still feeling somewhat off. I really needed to hear this externally to confirm my gnawing conscience regarding some of my actions.
 
Recognize it but don’t feel overly guilty.
When we are passionate about a subject, it’s hard to keep calm 😊
brgregmack said:
Thanks for this clarification. I’ve been guilty of that too. In a way, I think I’ve justified various occasions of doing so while still feeling somewhat off. I really needed to hear this externally to confirm my gnawing conscience regarding some of my actions.
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tarboy said:
Recognize it but don’t feel overly guilty.
When we are passionate about a subject, it’s hard to keep calm 😊
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I’m definitely passionate, but looking back over my life I know there are some other reasons for this tendency.
 
Maybe you should try getting the book How Not to Share Your Faith, by Mark Brumley (I think). It is on sale right now in the CA shop and might be of use to you.
 
DJK100 said:
Maybe you should try getting the book How Not to Share Your Faith, by Mark Brumley (I think). It is on sale right now in the CA shop and might be of use to you.
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You’re right, it is Brumley. Just ordered it.😃
 
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