End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations

When was the last time you had a real & meaningful conversation? What has happened to our society?

Differences of opinion have always been part of life. For decades, spouses, family members, co-workers, and neighbors have had spirited conversations about politics, social issues, religion, current events, and even sports. But what was different in the past is that these disagreements wouldn’t sever ties between family and friends.

Today, we live in an argument culture that has led to nearly a third of people reporting they have stopped talking to a friend or family member due to a disagreement and nearly two-thirds of people saying they stay quiet about their beliefs due to the fear of offending others. From cyberbullying to hate speech, workplace harassment, demonizing political language, verbal abuse, and intolerance, the vast majority of us―eighty-seven percent―no longer feel safe in public places to share our opinions.

In End the Stalemate, Sean McDowell and Tim Muehlhoff guide readers on how to have meaningful conversations that promote empathy in communication and foster genuine connection. This book offers practical, biblical conflict resolution tools to help Christians live as God’s ambassadors—listening to others, even those with differing perspectives. Walk through:

• How to create connection and emotional awareness that opens the door for a fair exchange of ideas and effective communication;
• How to engage in perspective-taking, as illustrated in Scripture in a number of stories;
• How to speak the truth in love, from a biblical understanding;
• How to structure a conversation with those who hold diverse, and/or seemingly threatening, views; and
• How to honor the words and perspective of those with whom we disagree.

Yes, we live in cancel culture. But that doesn’t mean that we as Christians need to conform to our world. Instead, we can be a beacon of sanity that promotes meaningful conversations around what matters most in this life―and the next.

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, especially young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support of a biblical worldview. Sean is an associate professor in Talbot School of Theology’s Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. Sean is an internationally recognized speaker and the author, co-author, or editor of numerous books. He has a popular YouTube channel in which he discusses apologetics, culture, and worldview issues and regularly hosts conversations with non-Christians. He blogs regularly at seanmcdowell.org and engages a range of different social media platforms.

Tim Muehlhoff is a communication professor at Biola University, teaching on topics like family communication, conflict resolution, and apologetics. With a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill, he developed a model to help couples overcome marital issues. A seasoned speaker and consultant, Tim has worked with leaders from various fields and, with his wife Noreen, has spoken at FamilyLife Marriage Conferences for nearly two decades. His books include The God Conversation, Marriage Forecasting, and I Beg to Differ. Tim and his family live in Brea, CA. More at timmuehlhoff.com.