Charlan Jeanne Nemeth, a female professor of psychology at the University of California once remarked: “Consensus, while comforting and harmonious as well as efficient, often leads us to make bad decisions. Dissent, while often annoying, is precisely the challenge that we need to reassess our own views and make better choices. It helps us consider alternatives and generate creative solutions. Dissent is a liberator.
So why do we punish dissent? Most of us believe that we are open to differing views. Some of us believe that we like challenges to our ideas. In practice, however, most of us dislike a person who believes the opposite of a position we hold, and we creatively look for reasons for his “error.” We tend to think of him in negative terms. He is a troublemaker who is wasting time and blocking our goals. We are quite willing to punish him, most often through ridicule or rejection.
We are continually advised “to go along and to get along.” It is powerful advice for most of us who prefer to be “in” rather than “out.” We like being accepted and valued - and we know that if we stand up against the majority, we will be “on the outs.” We thus remain silent. Sometimes we even nod in agreement, not knowing why we are nodding - because we choose not to ask ourselves what we really believe. There is a price for this as well.” However, it should be remembered that the dissent of humanity is not the divergence of God. Isaiah 55;8 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Divergence is defined as a situation in which two things become different, or the difference between them increases. It can include dissension, aberration, comparison, dissimilarity, opposition, division in a formerly agreed practice, or even a mere fork in the road to name but a few synonymous indications in the possible terminology of meanings. Revelation 17:8 reminds us: “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”
Life should never be considered consistently smooth or as it often appears, as changes can occur suddenly and without warning. Despite the valuable worthwhile opinions of some, discord often prevails in suggestions for improvement or personal viewpoints reflecting loyalty, belief, comparison, or indeed, any other apposite matter. John 21:20-25 reminds us: “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”
Wisdom often evolves through experience, mistakes made in life, or wrong points of view that have, as such, been realized. It has always been deemed as the preferred option to folly. Wisdom can provide a balanced view and a better understanding to life. There is usually a strong element of sound reasoning supporting opinions of divergence or dissent. Rational thoughts predominantly take precedence over irrationality. Alexandre Dumas, a French novelist and playwright once remarked: “There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.
We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. " Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.” Proverbs 3:13-18 reminds us: “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.”
Discretion, applied appropriately, is often considered the peaceful solution in any heated conflict or discussion. If it is used with discernment, it can often avoid the pitfall of: “Where fools rush in.” It allows for a viable course of action to be considered or instigated rather than strict conformity to a regularly adopted practice. Proverbs 4:20-24 reminds us: “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”
In life, it is considered far better, and one of God’s wishes, to live in harmony and peace with others. There will obviously be times of dissent or divergence, with varying degrees of force, according to the situation in hand. But the need and aims of peaceful solutions should always remain the primary focus.
Faith and trust in God is valuable in all circumstances, whether or not they apply to peaceful discussions, or situations of discord. God can supply the necessary thinking and voice to supplement the wisdom required to often reach an amicable solution with justice and compassion. Romans 14:1-4 reminds us: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Amen.
