Shhh, just listen. If there is one thing people do not do enough, it is listen to one another.

I attended Jubilee, a Christian conference, for the first time. This weekend, as I listened to multiple Christian speakers, I became furious over what I heard. Then, I listened some more and gained a new perspective. I did not change my beliefs, but I gained a different way of seeing — and to me that is invaluable.

I sat in sermons where I listened to people tell me right and wrong absolutes of typical hot topics that go against the “counter-culture” of Christianity. As a disclaimer, I do not think that these topics define Christianity, but they are definitely worth discussing.

I listened to people talk and what I heard is that because I do not believe these absolutes, I am missing a piece of the puzzle from my Christian identity. At these times it is hard to call myself a Christian because I do not know how to belong with a group of people whose beliefs go against my own.

So for the first day of Jubilee, I seethed in my seat. I could not hear what people were saying and did not realize that the music was blaring because my frustration beat too loudly in my ears. I appreciate opinionated people. I think it is important for people to stand by their convictions; however, I have no respect for statements without logic, and at that point all I heard were opinions without explanation.

Throughout the next two days of Jubilee, I tried to put my own beliefs aside and just listen to everything that was being said. But I did not truly listen until I sat down to talk with my mentor, Matt Ramsay, a campus minister through Coalition for Christian Outreach. He asked me to pinpoint what frustrated me at the conference and so I told him that the black and white right and wrongs in Christianity do not match what is in my heart.

For the next hour and a half, Ramsay talked, allowing me to interject with my questions, as he described his background, his work in scripture, his discussions with people outside of the church and how all of those things shape his opinions of Christian beliefs. His reasoning, so in-depth and logical, left me struck by his passion, conviction, and most of all, his acceptance of others. Even though I still do not agree with him, I understand why he believes what he does and for that, I now respect and love him more than I did before.

I appreciated the fact that Ramsay took the time to simply explain his viewpoint. He took off his glasses and let me look through his lenses so that I could glimpse what he sees. This made me think about other issues in which people disagree and how it does not matter if there is not a consensus as long as people are listening to many different voices. From a willingness to accept and learn about people and cultures, we might be able to work with each other instead of against each other.

The possibility for dialogue and listening opens the doors to so many different perspectives, and through that a greater love for those people and the world as a whole.

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