Sharpening Souls: How Biblical Dialogue Shapes Us
Embracing growth through Godly conversation
In a world quick to judge and slow to understand, the art of meaningful dialogue becomes a beacon of hope. Through the gentle exchange of ideas, we find the opportunity for growth and the path to true connection. Marie Grace, Ph.D.
In his favorite café, R.C. Sproul sits with wit and jest.
Apologetics in hand, a humorous quest.
“Critique,” he says, “is the art of care.”
Friendship is as rare as air.
He sips his coffee with a chuckle, light as air.
“Like pruning a vine or combing tangled hair,
It’s love’s labor, offered with a gentle flair.”
Criticism, oh, that’s the thorny beast,
Guttled with grumbles, not in the least
merry dance, but a furrowed feast.
“Critique is a scalpel, precise and keen.”
He muses, “While criticism is a hammer, unseen,
Crushing bones where tender growth had been.”
One sunny afternoon, Sproul recounted a tale most keen:
A young man once painted a scene that was bright and serene.
‘What do you think?’ he asked, his eyes gleaming.
I pondered, then shared, ‘The sky, could it lean?
More towards azure, less green?
Such a minor change, yet its impact is unforeseen.
Months later, he returned, a masterpiece gleaned.
‘Your words,’ he said, ‘guided my hand, unseen.’”
In the banter, laughter finds its grace.
A jester’s smile on Sproul’s face.
“Let’s wield our words like a painter’s brush.”
For, in the end, we’re but clay and dust.
Our critiques can uplift, as soft as a hush,
And our humor, like wisdom, in quiet, we trust.
“Speak truth in love.” In this, we must.
Note
You may not have heard of Dr. R.C. Sproul before, but I want to introduce you to this remarkable theologian I greatly admire. Born in 1939 in Pittsburgh, Sproul had a unique gift—the ability to make complex theological ideas understandable and applicable to everyone.
Sproul was so much more than an academic. He was a prolific writer and captivating speaker, known for his down-to-earth style and skill in explaining profound truths in a way anyone could grasp. Through books like “The Holiness of God” and “Chosen by God,” as well as his radio program, “Renewing Your Mind,” he invited people into a deeper faith without the academic jargon getting in the way.
Sproul passed away in 2017, but his legacy carries on, showing that theology isn’t just for a select few—it’s for everyone. I hope you’ll take the chance to learn from this remarkable teacher as much as I have.
