How Do You Respond?

[Guest Michaelangeli]

How do you respond when someone challenges a view or belief you hold strongly, or tries to show a different view?

Do you respond like this, which involves this thinking, or do you respond like this, which involves looking down on, and attacking a person's character, and motive?

Let's be honest, and not be lying to others, or ourselves.

[RdJ]

Depends. I saw a girl in the comments of a youtube video about an American woodcock say irritating standard atheist stuff. I used to have lot of patience for that and pray for them and explain sweet that God really exists, but I got enough of talking with them, because they stayed so negative and now I'm like: oh no blah another one and don't even do any effort. People I know irl who are atheist that's different, but they are not that annoying. Just this arrogant bla bla I have no patience for it anymore.

Other subjects depends. As long as they're not arrogant, nasty, Jew haters or racists I listen and respond normal mostly.

[deva1]

28 minutes ago, Michaelangeli said:

How do you respond when someone challenges a view or belief you hold strongly, or tries to show a different view?

Do you respond like this, which involves this thinking, or do you respond like this, which involves looking down on, and attacking a person's character, and motive?

Let's be honest, and not be lying to others, or ourselves.

I used to try to persuade them of my view and honestly felt pressured to convince them . Now I pray as we are talking and if I feel led to continue the conversation I will but if I feel this is not a genuine interest but maybe just an attempt to annoy me etc I just say we'll have to agree to disagree and leave it. I usually ask God to direct me with this person.

[Guest Michaelangeli]

Wow. So many posts got lost in this thread.

So sorry. You all made such good contributions, and it was going so well.

I guess I'll make a thread, that jockeys on a useful comment from one of the posts.

Thanks everybody. 

[farouk]

On 1/15/2024 at 5:58 AM, deva1 said:

I used to try to persuade them of my view and honestly felt pressured to convince them . Now I pray as we are talking and if I feel led to continue the conversation I will but if I feel this is not a genuine interest but maybe just an attempt to annoy me etc I just say we'll have to agree to disagree and leave it. I usually ask God to direct me with this person.

Hi @deva1 If someone is going to be converted, it's the Word of God that is going to take effect; Acts 16: 'Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened'.........

[other one]

I try and just post my view.  I do read others, for I am smart enough to know I don't know everything.  But if I disagree, I don't like to make an issue of it.   Not everyone thinks the way I do, and sometimes that gives a slightly different view of things. It's no big deal if people don't agree.

[deva1]

11 hours ago, farouk said:

Hi @deva1 If someone is going to be converted, it's the Word of God that is going to take effect; Acts 16: 'Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened'.........

Hi farouk. Agree there. 👍

[farouk]

31 minutes ago, deva1 said:

Hi farouk. Agree there. 👍

@deva1 Scriptural, indeed, I believe....

[deva1]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

@deva1 Scriptural, indeed, I believe....

Yes. Faith comes by hearing....

We are just the vessels He uses sometimes. Using decernment is important I've  learnt. 

[farouk]

9 hours ago, deva1 said:

Yes. Faith comes by hearing....

We are just the vessels He uses sometimes. Using decernment is important I've  learnt. 

@deva1 Reminds me of Romans 10.17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."