Power of Persuasion… Part 4… Conclusion

Winning by persuasion

Jesus demonstrated the power of persuasion when He communicated with hostile or difficult people

A Samaritan woman had lived with several men. She needed salvation. Jesus knew the woman would not accept the truth from Him because of the hostility between the Jews and the Samaritans. He, therefore, started a friendly dialogue to make her talk to Him.

She was surprised that a Jew would ask a Samaritan water to drink. Jesus ignored her remark and dealt directly on her spiritual need.

He led her patiently, with persuasion, to the point where she could assimilate the truth and admit her sins.

With enmity out of the way, and Jesus now a friend, she could ask for the living water that Jesus said He had. Through that woman, the rest of the Samaritans came to hear Jesus, and believed in Him (John 4:5-42).

Abraham Lincoln asked, “Am I not conquering my enemies when I make them my friends?”

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What the Qur’an also says about compelling people

“And whoever strives, he strives only for himself. Verily, Allah stands not in need of any of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)…” (29:6; The Noble Qur’an: English translation of the Meanings and Commentary.)

Again we read,

“And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind, until they become believers? It is not for any person to believe, except by the leave of Allah, and he will put the wrath on those who are heedless.” (10:99-100)

Why then do militants compel people to accept their religion?

Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.”

Coercion, hate and violence do not win people’s sympathy.

Militants use violence to promote their religion, and yet they claim they promote a peaceful God, and a peaceful religion.

The New Testament presents a tolerant and peaceful way
Jesus asked His followers to use persuasion

Jesus said we must not pray for the destruction of our enemies. We should rather pray that they do not succeed in their evil ways. I pray that evil people will change and become good and peaceful children of God.

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The Bible way of treating enemies

When the Syrian army came to capture Elisha, he prayed and they became blind and helpless. Elisha asked the King not to kill them, but feed, treat them well, and send them safely back to their home country (2 Kings 6:8-23).

Jesus would not allow His disciples to call fire on the Samaritans. They wanted to do as Elijah did (2 Kings 1:9-12). Jesus told them the Spirit of the Christian (of the New Testament) is not the same as the Old Testament (Luke 9:51-56). The Spirit in the Christian is loving and forgiving; Christians are to love even their worst enemies.

Learn to listen even when you disagree with people

We like to listen to what we agree with. However, we should also learn to listen to what we disagree with. We learn a lot about the person who is speaking when we listen; we learn why he or she is angry or why he or she has a different view.

Neuropsychologists (and neuroscientists) explain that, when we are alone and speaking to ourselves, one part of the brain speaks while the other part listens.

We must, therefore, learn to listen.

Angry people do not like listening to people; they want to speak while everyone else listens to them. If you do not listen to people, people will also not want to listen to you.

Effective listening starts with learning to respect other people’s views

Do not argue, do not debate, and do not force your views on people.
Do not strive to prove them wrong. Do not attack their views; you will indirectly make them dislike you.
Discuss; do not give instructions. Explain and give valid reasons.
Be friendly. See your opponent as a friend and not an antagonist.
Listen to their objections and address them candidly.
Tolerate and don’t be sarcastic in your remarks.
Smile …. don’t be angry.

Persuade; do not force

John Locke said,

“The care, therefore, of every man’s soul belongs unto himself, and is to be left unto himself…. No man can be forced to be rich or healthful, whether he will or no. Nay, God Himself will not save men against their wills.” (John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration; Prometheus Books, Buffalo, 1990, page 35)

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Power of Persuasion… Part 3

Learn to use the power of persuasion

Residents flee Hohoe violence — News report on conflict – Ghana

You can learn to use the power of peaceful persuasion to attract listeners.

It begins as a desire in your mind. As you think and act you become. Jesus said,

“Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24; New King James Version)

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he.”

The seat of emotions (the amygdala) in the brain plays a significant role in controlling the physical effects associated with feeling and action.

Our emotions can also make us react before the part of the brain responsible for thinking and evaluation is able to check on the reasonableness of our reaction. Angry and violent people follow their emotions; they react impulsively in anger. Some end up murdering or doing horrible things, as in the case of suicide bombers and religious militants. Some spouses, too, commit atrocious deeds when they are angry.

“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly,” (Proverbs 14:29; New King James Version)

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Scientific studies on the mind and the human brain agree with the Bible that we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

Harry Mills, Ph.D., points out that “No one is born with a chronic anger problem. Rather, chronic anger and aggressive response styles are learned.” He explains further that,

“Children growing up in a household where one parent constantly berates and belittles the other learn to berate and belittle themselves, and then often recreate this behavior when they grow up and enter into relationships by berating and belittling their partners.” (Harry Mills, Ph.D., Anger Styles Are Learned, mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php)

Violent and angry people can retrain and reframe their minds and learn to become peaceful.

You need to constantly affirm your desire; repeating them daily. Your affirmations will affect your behavior and determination.

Muhammad Ali, regarded as the greatest in boxing history, was fantastic and ruled the ring for many years. He called himself the greatest and told the world that he was the greatest, even while he was striving to excel and had not yet become the world champion. He said,

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to beliefs. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”

Medical science reveals that the brain restructures itself and adapts according to the repetitions of actions. The brain recognizes repetitions as patterns, which eventually lead to habit formation. Repeating actions will eventually make them happen automatically or almost automatically.

Listening and making people listen is not difficult for many. Many do not know how to encourage people to listen — Listening to people and making people listen is difficult for many. Many do not know how to encourage people to listen

How to make people listen to you

Listen carefully and show interest in what they say.
Do not argue, and do not force them to accept your views.
Do not strive to prove them wrong. Do not attack their views; you will indirectly make them dislike you.
Do not defend and do not debate. Discuss rather than instruct.
See your opponent as a friend and not an antagonist.
Listen to their objections and address them candidly. If you refuse to listen to them they, too, will not listen to you.
Tolerate and don’t be sarcastic in your remarks.
Smile …. don’t be angry.

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To be continued

Power of Persuasion… Part 2

There is power in persuasion

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“..yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (Jesus – John 16:2)

Persuasion has power to win without inflicting harm.

Religious Militants do not know the art of persuasion. They force people to accept their views.

Rockeybell at BarCamp Mentoring Program October 2014

Learn to win without attacking

Learn to present your message effectively without using physical force.
Present your facts; do not attack your opponents’ beliefs.

When you attack them, you make them hate you.

The Christian church was established through the power of persuasive speech. (Acts chapter 2)

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, stood before a hostile crowd, and used the power of persuasion to convict the hearts of listeners. The followers of Jesus Christ were only 120. For fear of being arrested and killed, they hid themselves in the upper room, and prayed.
Thousands of devout Jews from every nation had come to celebrate the Jewish religious festival in Jerusalem; just as millions of Muslims go to Mecca every year for the Hajj.
As the disciples waited on God and prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they started speaking with other tongues. People who heard them mocked, because they thought they were drunk.

Peter stood up and spoke persuasively, testifying about Jesus. He exhorted them, and convinced them to abandon their wrong ways and follow Jesus.

Peter did not use physical force to make people believe in Jesus. His words cut their hearts, and they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter replied,

“Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39; New King James Version)

About three thousand souls believed and became followers of Jesus Christ that day through the power of persuasion; not by the sword.
(We shall continue to examine the power of persuasion in subsequent discussions)

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History records wars between Muslims and Christians... A book by Rockeybell — History records wars between Muslims and Christians… A book by Rockeybell

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The Almighty, Peaceful, Loving and Compassionate God does not force people to love Him. When we attack people physically and compel them, we make them hate us. One does not have to kill people if one’s message has substance to convince.
Jesus told us to warn people, but not to attack them. He said we should leave them to God; God will deal with them on the Day of Judgement. (Luke 10:8-12)
Jesus commaded His followers to love their enemies; not to hate them.

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27-29; New King James)

Christians are allowed to defend themselves; they are not to be aggressors.
Jesus asked,

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:32-33; New King James Version)

Jesus Christ told His followers to be different from others. He told them to demonstrate their beliefs by persuading people; no force and no violence.
People who attack and kill innocent people are not true followers of God. They do not have the Spirit of the Compassionate God in them. At a certain time, the disciples were angry with some Samaritans. They remembered Prophet Elijah had called down fire to consume people who had come to arrest him (2 Kings 1:9-12). They asked Jesus to allow them also call fire to consume the Samaritans.

“But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:55-56; New King James Version)

Jesus said He did not come to destroy people’s lives. He came to save. True and saving religion does not destroy innocent people’s lives.

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To be continued

Power of Persuasion…. Part 1

The Power of Persuasion: How and Why

Islamic Militants may not know that persuasion has tremendous power to convince listeners.

Jesus taught His followers to use persuasion
He showed them how to win without attacking their opponents

(We shall discuss how to win without attacking as we progress.)

WINNING WITHOUT ATTACKING — Paper (Hard Copy) version of “Persuasion is Better Than Force.”

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Jesus demonstrated the power of persuasion when He communicated with hostile or difficult people.

The Samaritan woman had lived with several men. She needed salvation. However, because of the hostility between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus knew she would not accept the truth from Him, a Jew. Jesus, therefore, started a friendly dialogue to make her talk to Him. She was surprised that a Jew would ask a Samaritan water to drink. Jesus ignored her remark and dealt directly on her spiritual need.

He led her patiently to the point where she could assimilate the truth and admit her sins. With enmity out of the way, and Jesus now a friend, she could ask for the living water that Jesus said He had.

Abraham Lincoln said, “I conquer my enemies when I make them my friends.”
Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.”

Coercion, hate and violence do not win people’s sympathy.

Militants use violence to promote their religion, and yet they claim they promote a peaceful God and a peaceful religion.

The Bible presents a tolerant and peaceful way
Jesus told His disciples to use persuasion

Jesus gives true peace…

” Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27: New King James Version)

Christ’s Spirit makes us tolerant

Before he became a Christian, Paul persecuted Christians. But when he became a Christian, he learned the way of the Master Jesus – persuasion.

Why militants can’t tolerate others

They were trained from childhood, by their parents, peers and community leaders, to express themselves through violence. They were not allowed to exercise their own freewill to accept God, but were forced to do so.

Growing up in such environments, they copied the violent behaviors of those who influenced them, and became violent. When they fail to convince people, they become frustrated and end up attacking people. They call their violence ‘peace,‘ because that is how they know peace to be.

John Locke said,
“…true and saving religion consists in the inward persuasion of the mind, without which nothing can be acceptable to God.” (John Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1990; page 20)

Read Rockeybell’s testimony…http://www.peacemakersteam.com/rockeybells-testimony.html

Jesus exhibited a perfect spirit of tolerance.

The disciples were angry with some Samaritans who would not allow Jesus into their city. They wanted to call fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans just as Elijah did in 2 Kings 1:9-12. Jesus rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” So they went to another village.” (Luke 9:51-56)

Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43-45; New King James Version).

We hear of Boko Haram killing innocent people – destroying towns and villages. Yet we know that the Almighty God is peaceful and loving. They abduct women, and rape some of them. Can the victims accept that Boko Haram presents peace?

People will, therefore, continue believing that Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and all militants are violent.

Conquering Without Being Violent

Communicating with difficult people, anger control and making people listen

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