Haters gonna hate

One of my weaknesses as an apologist is that I often don't know when to just walk away. There are some exceptions, but very often, if I receive a single negative comment on one of my posts, I will pick it apart quote by quote, sometimes leading to hours of typing all because one unbeliever said something illogical. The problem is, sometimes, often even, the unbeliever is only there to scoff, not to have an honest discussion.

Over Facebook, or through any unspoken dialogue, it can be hard to determine these occasions. Tone doesn't come through very well, meaning some snarky comments can appear to be friendly, and some friendly comments can appear aggressive. However, there comes a point in every conversation when it is clearly better to just end it. A scoffer doesn't care about correct doctrine or true faith, but only about his own opinions. You'll literally get more sense out of a monkey than some people.

By contrast, there are some discussions that are definitely worth having. Human beings are not omniscient creatures who know all truth but often reject it. It is possible for us to be genuinely deceived, confused, and ignorant, and sometimes we'll get into discussions about these areas of blindness. A wise man, unlike a scoffer, will be grateful that you have corrected his previously false beliefs or immoral behavior.

This verse cuts like a double edged sword. Naturally, it doesn't assume you are inerrant with the capability of correcting everything. You, too, can have incorrect views, and a time will come when someone is brave enough to correct them. At that point, you will have to choose between two responses: That of the scoffer, or that of the wise man. Will you hate those who correct you, or will you see them as having done you a favor? My advice is to take the latter path.