This MTI blog series aims to help you and your readers sharpen your skills in communicating faith matters to secular readers – skeptics, seekers, and the spiritually disinterested.

One missionary explained the great value he placed on his critics, calling them “the unpaid guardians of my soul.”

Sound odd?  Maybe so in a cancel-culture world where many place great value on being perceived as correct, without error, flawless, triumphant, etc.  Who wants to be cancelled?

Of course, accuracy, correctness, and wisdom are admirable goals for anyone.  But none of us is perfect and even the most accomplished of us have some blind spots.  What if there was some way to catch our blind spots, rethink our logic or understanding if appropriate, and eliminate many flaws from our communication … oral and written?

There is.  Make regular use of critics and learn from their analyses of what you say and write.

Friends, family, colleagues

Some critics will be friends, family or colleagues whom you enlist to give feedback on your material.  You may not agree with all their assessments, but chances are that some will offer practical suggestions for improvement.  Are your stories entertaining and engaging?  Will they bore your readers?  Does your logic make sense?  Are any of the facts you cite confusing, questionable, unreliable?  Is there more dependable or more convincing evidence you can use?

A famous proverb reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

Another notes, ^“Open criticism is better than hidden love.  You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts.”

Spousal suggestions

My first wife, Linda Raney, was a professional writer and an excellent writing and speaking coach.  She would clearly explain the positives and negatives of my work, what was good and what needed revision, with specific suggestions.  Her help was invaluable.

Early in my first marriage, a male colleague asked if I ever felt intimidated by her accomplishments.  “Yes,” I replied.  “How do you handle it?” came the query. “I confess it,” was my response.  If I’m basing my self-worth on comparative accomplishments – rather than on my relationship with Jesus – that’s my problem.  I John 1:9 was in order for me.

As I indicated in another MTI article, her advice has made a world of  difference in my communication efforts and opened many doors for the Gospel.

My late wife, Meg Korpi, taught graduate level writing at Stanford and was an excellent editor for me and collaborator in writing.  And now my wife, Babs, an executive assistant for the vice president of a large global ministry, offers valuable perspective and analysis of my writing.

I am a better communicator for having listened to my wives’ input.

Critics on the “other side”

But what about critics who are not your friends?  The critic whose views on ethics, morality, faith, God, the Bible, etc., may make it seem like they live in a different world from your own.  Maybe they give you negative reviews, scoff at your speeches, or troll you on social media.

Perhaps you feel stung. It can be easy to dismiss such critics as not sharing your worldview and thus not worth worrying about – especially when your ego is bruised!  But, if you are trying to reach those who do not hold your perspective, you can view negative criticism as a way to better hone your communication to reach them.  You need not compromise your beliefs, but maybe you can present them in ways better tailored to connect with your audience.

For instance, suppose a nonbelieving critic tells you your speech or writing seems pushy, offensive, preachy, etc.  You could evaluate their criticism and seek solutions to better communicate.  Part of your strategy could be choosing to use terms that convey the same things you have intended to communicate but that sound more familiar to the skeptic.

For instance, in an earlier MTI article on “Translating Christianese,” I noted various alternatives to using the perfectly legitimate phrase, “the Bible says.”   For some nonbelievers, the phrase reminds them of fiery preachers that make them feel uncomfortable.  You could substitute terms like:

• the biblical documents indicate …
• a biblical perspective would be that …
• a first-century follower of Jesus maintained that …
• Jesus’ close friends claimed he taught that …
• Paul, an early Christian, wrote in a letter to some friends …
• one first-century witness to the events claimed …
• an ancient Israeli king said …
• an ancient Jewish wise man/sage once wrote …
• etc.

You would not be compromising the truth but just speaking the audience’s language more effectively.  The result could be enhanced connection with your skeptical audiences.  Your critic and some adjustment would have helped open doors to relate Christ to additional skeptical nonbelievers.

Lessons from secular university speaking

I’m grateful that I spent years on the secular university lecture circuit, presenting faith perspectives in secular classrooms, fraternity and sorority (men’s and women’s social groups) houses, student leader events, athletic meetings, and campus-wide meetings.  I spoke on themes like love, dating, sex, and marriage, success, leadership, racism, and many more.

In classrooms and other venues, we opened up for questions and answers, then asked audience members to write their reactions on comment cards.  The Q&A taught me to think on my feet.  The comment cards provided lasting records of audience reaction.  I could see what worked and what did not, learn, adjust, and communicate better next time.

I did not know answers to every question students and lecturers asked.  I learned that it is best to admit that, indicate I’d need to research a particular question more, and (if possible) get back to the inquirer.

I remember in the 1970’s speaking about love, sex, and marriage in a class at San Diego State University.  In the Q&A, the professor asked me how the principles I was explaining would relate to homosexual relationships. It was the first time I had been asked that question (prominent LGBTQ+ movements were yet future).  I replied by thanking him for the question and saying I would need to give that some more thought and research.  Then I studied more about gay relationships and formed responses.

Other times, professors let me know they did not like certain concepts I presented.  I contemplated their critiques and constructed better, clearer, and more balanced ways to present the same concepts.

Oops!

I remember well speaking on “Is Atheism a Realistic Option?” in one university classroom and writing that title on the blackboard, along with some outline points as I presented.  In the Q&A, the first comment was from the professor who pointed out that I had written “Athiesm”. So much for my efforts to establish credibility!  As I recall, I thanked him for pointing out the misspelling, then poked some fun at myself for the goof.  A good learning experience.

Nonbelieving university professors have helped improve my writing, too.  When writing an outreach article based on my campus talk Dynamic Sex: Unlocking the Secret to Love, I asked for input from two professors whom my wife and I knew to be skeptical of Christian viewpoints.  They very graciously critiqued my drafts and helped me improve the article to reach my intended audience (happy nonbelievers with little spiritual interest).  Their input paid off.  By God’s grace, today the article has been used around the world in at least five languages: English, Spanish,  French,  Chinese,  Greek.

Secular television

When I started receiving invitations to be interviewed on secular television talk shows (called “chat programs” in some cultures), I asked for suggestions from local producers.  A very kind producer in Detroit – whose popular program booked me four times – suggested I put a bit more energy into my on-air conversations.  That was a huge help.  Another TV producer, a Christian who worked near my home, would review video tapes with me after tours and coach me on improvement skills.  I am indebted to them all.

And certainly, educators have helped me improve as a writer.  Excellent teachers in secondary school evaluated my work, suggested improvements, and guided my development.  In university, professors in psychology, sociology, philosophy, religion, political science, anthropology, and English did the same.  By then, I was a follower of Jesus and incorporated faith perspectives into many of my papers.  Seeing how these professors – most of them nonChristians – reacted helped me to learn, improve my technique, and build my confidence to continue.  Ditto for professors in graduate school.

So, I encourage you to value your critics as “the unpaid guardians of your soul.”  See them as a blessing and not a curse, even as aides to helping you be the most effective communicator you can be!

Want to know more?

Gratis online resources:

• The Audience Map is a Cru interactive online tool to help Christian communicators analyze their audience and develop ideas for reaching them for Christ.  Easy to use, global in scope, and research based.  It includes videos and many questions to help you think through skeptics, seekers, the spiritually disinterested, nominal Christians and more.  Offered as “Your missional guide to seeing and loving people in the digital age.”

Copyright © 2024 Rusty Wright

by Rusty Wright. Rusty is an author and lecturer who has spoken on six continents.  He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford universities, respectively.

Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash