In the day of texts and Twitter, it is refreshing to read a book on the art of verbal communication. When reviewing with the authors the subtleties and power of truthful speech, I couldn’t help but wonder what we might be losing as a church and as a culture. Perhaps thankfully, the authors leave such philosophizing to others, as they get right to the content promised in the title, “How to Argue Like Jesus.”
As a culture writer/blogger and top speech competitor, Joe Carter and John Coleman, respectively, make a good writing team. The book reads like a text book of sorts, but without getting too heady or ever losing relevance. While embracing their love and faith in Jesus Christ, the authors interestingly engage with the studies of classic rhetorical thought, and even structure the book around the forms of speech identified by Aristotle. I actually found this very compelling, as it brought to light how Jesus, who himself was the perfect Word of God, would have exercised a perfect communication, thus it makes sense to break up and analyze his speech through such manageable classifications. Just like science helps to see more of the wonder and subtle design of God’s work, Aristotle’s (and others) rhetorical study does the same for God’s gift of language and speech. While not everyone will appreciate this approach or the detail of some of the discussion, I think it definitely helps organize the subject, and did not have a cumbersome feel.
The authors go on to review different situations throughout the Gospels when Jesus used various forms of speech, and they give practical applications that the reader can do to follow his example to persuade listeners. In this way, the book is quite the gift to anyone who has to speak in front of others. You are learning concepts of speech from the best orator who ever lived. Aside from my own interest in the subject of speaking more effectively, I found the book to be quite devotional, even, at times. Simply reviewing with the authors the words of Jesus and some of the genius of his communication of the gospel to the people he loved so much was inspiring to me. I even gained new understanding to some parables and such classic statements as, “Do not cast your pearls before swine.”
I also appreciate that Carter and Coleman did not solely look at Jesus’ method of communication, but they went quite a bit into the mode, as well. Perhaps my favorite chapter of the book was on discipleship and the way in which effective communication can spread to become a movement. Their study of Jesus’ use of core groups of smaller, more intimate relationships of people is something that the church should look at with new eyes. Jesus was clearly onto something.
When I see so many conversations about faith and about what God is doing in the universe descend into shouting matches, I think this book is a great step toward reconnecting with the inspiration and privilege of sharing a message which was delivered to us in a most loving manner - the person of Jesus Christ. Perhaps we have lost some of our passion for that person and for God’s salvation message. So if seeing Jesus’ passion - even to the point of death! - for us and this good news of a new kingdom he talks about can lead us toward a higher calling to share more effectively the words of our hearts -- then it is a worthwhile work indeed. A great read!
Reviewed by Matt Milligan
