“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth…. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim 2:15, 24-25).

Whenever we’ve exhausted our abilities to reason about our beliefs with someone who is obviously in error, we typically turn up the volume of our emotions; and also our voices. In these cases, how should we respond? Arguing is never the way forward. It’s just an admission we do not have all the answers. In these moments, we must be willing to admit to ourselves the underlying cause of our frustration. More than likely, it comes from our own sense of humiliation and defeat, a realization that we are not, in this particular conversation, able to refute the false teaching. No need to sulk. Rather, let us admit to ourselves that there is always more to learn, and eagerly apply ourselves to growing in the ability to more accurately handle the word of truth.

Let’s not let our ego get in the way because it’s not about winning the argument, it’s about winning the person!

“Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes” (Ps 119:12).