Jesus Confronts Dale Carnegie

Jesus Confronts Dale Carnegie
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 by Ron Susek

Jesus Confronts Dale Carnegie

by Ron Susek

©Golden Quill Publication

Dale Carnegie set forth some valuable principles in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. The book and study course has four parts: 1) Fundamental Techniques in Handling People, 2) Six Ways to Make People Like You, 3) How to Win People to Your Way of Thinkingand, 4) Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment.

With all due respect to the late Dale Carnegie, and aware of the value in his teaching, I think Jesus would have failed. Almost daily Jesus infuriated someone.

Was Jesus rude? No. Was he antisocial? No. Why, then, was He so divisive?

He spoke truth!

He spoke truth when declaring to be the Son of God. His claim of equality with God drove the Pharisees to the drawing boards to design a fitting cross.

Jesus spoke truth about sin; declaring us all guilty. He was not on a feel-good mission to win friends and influence people, but rather to save us from ourselves. His message was turn or burn, with either heaven or hell as the outcome.

The Lord spoke the truth about the world, warning of the coming judgment. False prophets who loved to say "Peace, peace when there is no peace," were livid.

The Good Shepherd spoke truth about forgiveness extended to the lowest sinner. When religious leaders wanted to provoke him to hurl a stone at an adulterous woman, He said, "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone." They could only grind their teeth and leave.

In short, Jesus simply did not fit the Dale Carnegie model of how to manipulate people to like Him in an effort to satisfy his goals.

I am not belittling Mr. Carnegie's course. It has valuable lessons for all of us to learn. Jesus, however, did not come to use compliments, flattery and positive thoughts to "win" people. He boldly declared us all to be condemned sinners who are loved on high, and that His Father was and is ready to forgive all who will repent. While his words were razor sharp, his heart flowed with heaven's love. It was not a learned technique; it was the way He was.

God provides the greatest course in public relations one could ever find. The title of the course is: Made in the Image of Christ. As you develop under the greatest teacher on earth, the Holy Spirit, you will instinctively know when to upset money changers, rebuke snarly Pharisees, lift despair from one who has violated their own values, give significance to a gangly youth in search of identity, disarm hate and empower with love.

This is a small sampling of the endless ways Jesus will bear fruit through you as you grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God was sent to equip you as an effective ambassador of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Becoming like Jesus is a lifetime process. It can be difficult at times. Do not get discouraged. God took a handful of uneducated Galilean fishermen, shaped them into Christ's image and they changed the course of world history.

Heaven only knows what plans God has for you!

Immanuel: God is with you.

Your friend,

Ron