The Power of Persuasion – Sunday, April 29, 1984
We see today conflicts and clashes in many parts of the world. The battling armies march under various banners and arguments rage under a number of rationalizations.
We would not want to oversimplify complicated disputes, but in a sense, there is really only one objective of these contests. There is really only one basic war. The objective is power, and the war is over how that power shall be gained and used.
There are really only two sources of power, the power of coercion, and the power of persuasion. Stripped of labels, propaganda and slogans, this is the basic and eternal question. Shall the power of force or the power of persuasion prevail?
At first observation, it would appear that there is no contest. The mailed fist of force can always crush the delicate petals of persuasion. The blood-soaked history of the world rumbles with marching boots, and thunders with artillery. History’s pages are littered with the remains of nations and people crushed by those with great military might. It is a sad commentary on the way we as people have almost always abused power.
History would seem to say that the meek will be lucky to survive, much less inherit the earth. But if we take a little longer look, we may modify our view. The power of persuasion is slow and quiet, but it is not without its recorded victories.
Who would have supposed that an undernourished, unarmed and ill-clad religious leader preaching passive resistance could prevail against one of the great military powers of his day? Yet the British Empire is today a memory, and the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi is a moving force in the lives of millions.
How could eleven leaderless men preaching peace and brotherhood have survived against the mightiest military power in their world? Yet long after the Roman Empire is dust, the gentle force of Christianity is one of the great saving powers in our society.
How will the quiet voices of restraint and respect be heard today above the roar of the cannons? That is hard to say, but if history is any measure, these voices will be heard. Eventually the gentle power of persuasion and the bright expectation of peace will come and will overcome. Finally, the prophecy proclaimed by the angels at the birth of the Prince of Peace will be realized. We shall see, “…on earth peace (and) good will toward men.”1 And we shall see that it came not through force, but through the gentle persuasion of one human heart at a time.
1 New Testament, Luke 2:14
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April 29, 1984
Broadcast Number 2,854