Marketing Blog, I commit to sharing without fear and anxiety, Rejection of my idea gives me an opportunity to update my belief system, It's better to know than to assume I am right. Rob Sellers is professor of theology and missions emeritus at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon Seminary in Abilene, Texas. In the end, the discussion may lead to a decision you do not agree with and that should be a sign to shift gears. Like Liked by 1 person But this is not the case. A difference of opinion is useful to seek diverse viewpoints, evaluate solutions from different points of view and make unbiased decisions. I have done that, committed to dialogue as a way of bringing people together, while simultaneously resisting ongoing dispute that can sometimes turn argumentative and drive people apart. Find more ways to say disagree, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Although at some juncture I will agree to disagree with a thoughtful interlocutor for the sake of maintaining friendship, I cannot be persuaded to change my response to these matters that shape my life as a follower of Christ: treating people who follow other faiths with respect and compassion; celebrating the calling of women into every form of Christian ministry; affirming the reality of climate change and working to reverse our human footprint on earth; supporting Black Lives Matter in our racially torn American society; opposing the racist phenomenon of white supremacy and its insidious intrusion into segments of evangelicalism; welcoming and affirming LGBTQ people as beloved children of the Creator God and as my siblings in the human family; decrying the political turmoil that is destroying the soul of our nation; following a radical Lord who calls me to risk myself to champion justice and mercy for everyone; and cooperating with diverse partners to identify and participate in God’s work in the world. I learned to admire this strategy many years ago. "I intend to share my opinion to help us [....]. Before offering any commitment, it's important that you clarify your understanding on the final decision. Eventually, when the decision does land based on the power equation or some other decision-making framework employed by the organization and it's not what we anticipated, it ends up hurting our emotions. The alternative mindset is both/and - he can be right in terms of his experience, and you can be right in terms of yours", The shift in your belief that there's more to the story can give permission to your brain to engage with the conflict and learn from it by inquiring. He and his wife, Diane have two children, Benjamin and Jennifer.