A More Loving Way to Disagree with Mike Donehey

Do you have loved ones in your life with whom you disagree? Do you find it hard to engage with someone who has a different opinion than yours? Are you prone to just “agree to disagree” when beliefs differ? If any of these are true for you, my interview today on the Christian Habits Podcast with Mike Donehey (links below) will give you a more peaceful approach and practical tips to have more healthy conversations when divisive topics arise.

What We Discussed on the Podcast

* The importance of how we disagree rather than just what is said

* How to gently engage another person with curiosity

* Maintaining openness with someone who has left the faith allows them a way back

* According to Romans 2:4, it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance

* When you’re confident in what you believe, you aren’t threatened by another’s questions

* When someone feels understood, it often drains away animosity

* How “agreeing to disagree” isn’t always the best way

* How to not become a “smug monster”

* Why Mike believes that bitterness is the most dangerous sin

* Why it’s always more important to love the other person than to win the argument

Resources Mentioned on the Podcast

* Mike’s book, Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree

* The Renewing of the Mind Project

Notable Quotes from Mike’s Book

“If we are to love in the gray spaces—the places where our arguments find just footing on either side—curiosity and kindness must lead the way. Our desire to be heard must not overpower our need to hear what others are saying. Our desire to be understood must not overshadow our need to understand others.”

“When grace is our baseline, then being disapproved of no longer feels like being disowned. We can even invite in divergence because we know where we stand. We know whose love we stand in.”

About Mike Donehey

Mike Donehey is a singer, songwriter, podcast host, and former lead singer of the Christian contemporary band Tenth Avenue North. He’s also the author of Grace in the Gray: A More Loving Way to Disagree (WaterBrook; on sale 1/17/23) and the bestselling author of Finding God’s Life for My Will. Mike, his wife, Kelly, and their four daughters live in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s also the host of Chasing the Beauty podcast. For more information, visit mikedonehey.com, or find Mike on his social channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.

How to Listen to the Podcast

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