Don’t Tell Us What You Found; Show Us Where to Look

How the truth is delivered to us affects the warmth of our acceptance of it. The best, most powerful persuasion comes from discovering the truth for ourselves - from intimate contact with the truth itself. When the truth is handed to us on a silver platter (Mark 6:28), we are not persuaded. Therefore, don’t tell us what you found; show us where to look. The persuasive wallop to our rationality from discovering the truth for ourselves is robbed from us when others unwrap our presents for us. We want to figure out the answer to the question for ourselves. We want to do the math. So, point us to the location where we can find the answer. Show us where the answer is kept.

For instance. If you want us to understand the nature of God, give us a shovel, take us to the battlefield where Jesus fought the monster of the Crucifixion, and let us dig up the treasure of Christianity ourselves.

Christianity is not about indoctrination, Christianity is about exploration. The Holy Spirit is tugging at our souls and the curious are following the tug back to its source. Along the way, the curious are exploring the mystery, majesty and magnificence of God. The Church is the tour guide with more than two thousand years of experience. Surely a Church with more than two millennia of experience knows a thing or two about the sights to see along the way?

Some Assembly Required

The raw materials of truth can be assembled together, as are the pieces of a puzzle, into a more meaningful, finished product. The issue in the science of persuasion is who should do the assembly. We can put the pieces of truth together ourselves and present the finished puzzle to our neighbors. Or we can let our neighbors assemble the pieces of truth together for themselves. We can let them figure it out for themselves instead of figuring it out for them. Does who puts the pieces of truth together matter? Which is the better methodology of persuasion?

The best persuasion comes when we discover the truth for ourselves. When we discover the truth for ourselves, we take ownership of it. The discovery of the truth for ourselves packs the strongest persuasive punch. It gives our rationality a powerful wallop. When the assembled truth is handed to us on a silver platter (Mark 6:28), we are not persuaded.