“If ever a fool utters all kinds of insults against you, the best bet is to not respond at all.” ~
Sometimes, the most sage advice in the world is the most difficult to accept. When people wrong us, we often feel that we need to engage with them and refute what they are saying or doing. WRONG. The best rule of thumb is to follow Miguel Angel Saez Gutierrez’ advice and not respond at all. Because, as soon as you respond, you give a person even more fodder to remain on the offensive.
Perhaps the only response that makes sense from a Christian perspective is to love and forgive. It is pretty obvious that some people want to be as oppositional as possible. Sadly, personal attacks are on the rise in today’s society. We seem to be losing the fine art of discourse. In today’s world, if we disagree with someone, we think it is all right to destroy them.
However, if we disagree with someone, we need to try to listen and understand. True, we also need to mitigate the damage that the person is doing; however, we can also try to reach out with a loving and forgiving heart.
I often wondered how the apostles dealt with opposition. They were counter-cultural, going against many tenets of their culture and following an outcast and outlaw: Jesus Christ. I’m sure they didn’t like being called dumb, smelly fishermen. I’m sure they didn’t like being ridiculed and heckled. I’m sure they didn’t like the challenge that Jesus gave them to love and forgive. Nonetheless, that is what they strove to do.
I encourage you to do the same when you meet those who hate you.
FAITH ACTION: Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.