CONVINCED THROUGH COMMONALITY

When faced with a hostile individual, it is sometimes unknown if the subject will fight out of fear, anger, or some sort of mental illness, incapacitating their reason. Our line of thinking should be to figure out a way to control the situation before it turns sideways. Most of the time the first line of defense is our speech.

There is a concept in Military and Police circles where using your speech is emphasized as an important first step in self-defense. The idea is when you’re faced with a hostile individual, you talk in such a way that ultimately de-escalates a situation, preventing an assault. This can include the implementation of producing a commonality with the subject, placing you in an advantageous, empathetic position.

I think in many situations, however, there is a lacking of a true portrayal of commonality between the subject and the individual using this technique. I’ve found that practitioners of this style of talk attempt to relate to a hostile subject without actually believing their own faults are worth consideration.

As Christians, we look at ourselves through the lens of Scripture and know we are sinners in need of salvation. This understanding alone is extremely helpful in our conversation with a hostile party. Because we truly understand and account for our sinful nature, we can properly be translated by the hostile individual as being truly genuine. After this relationship of some sort is built, we can then possibly reason with the individual and talk the subject out of their intended attack.

CONCLUSION

When faced with a hostile subject, learn to wisely depict your own depravity through speech in such a way to produce truthful commonality. Creating a rapport built upon sincerity may very well have the individual re-evaluate his intentions and stop the assault.

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”