November 6, 2009
When church meetings are interactive, there is always the possibility that some people will talk to much and some people will talk too little. I probably fall into the “talk too much” camp.
I think there are several reasons for this, and I’m working on a post (or series of posts) concerning one possible cause: our understanding of expertise and experts.
Laura at “Who in the World are We?” has written a short essay concerning speakers and non-speakers in a post called “How do you Balance Talkers and Listeners?” She says:
I’ve been on both sides of this problem: the talky expert and the quieted voice. Neither one is good. Communal Bible study must happen as community, not merely in community. Participation, not mere presence, makes for community. If it occurs otherwise, then it is probably a lecture–and likely a boring one at that.
How do you balance the voices in communal Bible study, honoring both expert and non-expert?
In most church meetings, this is not an issue (or perhaps you could say the issue is taken to the extreme) because only one (or a few) people speak or take part in the meeting.
How would you answer Laura’s question? How should the church balance the “voices” during church meetings (not just Bible studies)?
Related posts:
Alan we have had that issue in our home fellowship. I generally try to understand the motivation behind the talker. Sometimes we just need to let them talk. I think that kind of goes along with 1 Cor 12:21-25, about bestowing honor to those we think less honorable.
However, it can lead to disruption and eventually the person needs to be confronted. One thing I have done in our group is to continually remind everyone why we meet: For mutual edification and honoring the Lord. This seems to help keep things in perspective.
So what you’re saying is that you want me to stop talking so much?
Jeremiah,
So far, that makes two of us who claim to talk too much.
-Alan