Hearts of Compassion, Backbones of Steel: How to Discuss Controversial Topics with Love and Kindness

by Michael L. Brown

The culture wars are intensifying every day--and our kids and grandkids are caught in the crosshairs. We know we should speak and act--but how? How do we love our neighbor while refusing to compromise the gospel? How do we take a firm stance and keep a tender heart?Tackling some of the hardest and most controversial topics in society today, front-line apologist and popular radio host Michael L. Brown shows how you can engage culture wars with grace and compassion--and uncompromising truth. Through clear answers, biblical truth, real-life examples, and simple, straightforward talking points, Dr. Brown equips you to· discuss hard issues with intelligence, grace, kindness, and courage· share the truth effectively with love--and without compromise· reach hurting people while resisting a harmful agendaYou are called to be a light in this crooked generation. It's time to shine like Jesus--with a heart of compassion and backbone of steel.

208 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Michael L. Brown (born March 16, 1955) is a Messianic Jewish Old Testament scholar, professor, activist, itinerant speaker, and author who has preached in numerous countries and written twenty books. He is the founder and president of ICN Ministries. His writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He was married to Nancy Gurian on March 14, 1976 and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Megan, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Charles G. Hornick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for both mind and heart!

Michael Brown has written with a mind full of facts and a heart full of love. I so appreciated his challenge for us to be people of “humility, honesty, sensitivity, and commitment.” Well worth the read and an excellent resource!

[John White]

I enjoyed and appreciated reading this book. It addresses an issue that I am concerned with and talk to groups about; the divisions we see in our nation and our churches, and how to bridge the divides. The subtitle of the book explains the book's intent: how to discuss controversial topics with love and kindness. The first two thirds of the book discuss the attitudes and understanding one should have when discussing sensitive topics with someone with whom you disagree. The last third of the book offers discussion perspectives on three topics of potential controversy: abortion, LGBTQ+, and race relations.
The author is a conservative Christian, and the book is written from that perspective. But he spends considerable time to get readers to understand and have an appreciation of those who have an opposite perspective. It is clear Mr. Brown has given his subject considerable contemplation and research, and he includes several personal stories that help color and clarify his discussions. In this respect, the book makes the same point as Monica Guzman does in her book I Never Thought of It That Way, another book I have reviewed. Michael Brown and Monica Guzman are political and cultural opposites, but they come to the same conclusion about our need to have understanding conversations with our perceived opposites.
Somewhere in the middle of the book I underlined a few sentences that speak to the heart of the matter. In these sentences Michael is referring to the gay rabbi who officiated at his mother's funeral service, a man who he continues to communicate with to this day:

..., while we can be deeply entrenched ideological opponents, we are more deeply committed to treating each other with kindness and respect. We can major on that ethical imperative without denying our theological and sociological differences. Isn't this a fundamental part of living in this world? Isn't this loving our neighbor as ourselves on the most basic level? ... . Isn't this something we do as families when we have meals together over the holidays, despite deep differences we might have?

No matter which side you stand on the topics the author discusses, this book offers an appreciation of how the other side might perceive you and the topic at hand. It also gives us some instruction on appropriate Christian attitudes when communicating with others regardless of what their opinion might be. I recommend this book to anyone interested in widening their perspectives and sharing conversations with those you may not agree with in love, kindness, and understanding.

[Lindsay Disidore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and well written, I just thought the book would be more generally helpful for navigating conflict, not specific social issues.