If our way of thinking is predicated on what others think or how they will react, then we will base everything we say and do on winning them to our side by saying what they like to hear.
If our way of thinking is based on Scripture, then the response is not very important, only the truth is what matters.
Those invested in "feelings" and "emotions" will see only the emotions that emerge, interpreting them as though someone else provoked them. The emotional responders always blame others for their choice of emotion. They never take responsibility for their own response.
Those who are walking in truth have no need to explode or become angry when confronted. Only those who are hiding themselves will become angry when they have been discovered. And then accuse us of being angry. I probably can't count the number of times this has happened to me.
There will be regular accusations that we said what we said it in a mean way, or that we were not loving. But remember, those who don't like the message will almost never address the subject at hand, they will attack our character or our delivery to avoid facing truth.
When we attempt to bring them back to the subject they will shut us down through rage or refusal to address what we said. They almost always address "how we said it" without ever speaking to "what we said." Of course we cannot prove we didn't say it in a mean way, they know this, so they count themselves as having won when we become defensive. The best way to handle this is to remain calm, ignore the personal attacks never responding to these manipulative tactics, repeat what we said and then walk away.
There is no possibility of discussion with those who are not interested in the Scriptures for their answers to life. Experiences, emotions and how things appear are the measure of truth for those who do not wish for the Holy Spirit to be their guide.
This is common now, much more than ever before since our culture has become rude, crude and selfish. There is no honoring of others in accepting that everyone is allowed their opinion.
Sadly too, this culture that is more easily angered becomes vengeful. They reveal their insecurity inside when they rage to intimidate. They want to be seen as superior but have failed to hide while being discovered.
Their true self flows out through their vitriolic reaction and the anger on their face, just like a spoiled child who someone said "no" to, they cannot accept they may need to rethink something.
When we explode at someone for challenging us, that is strong evidence that we are not sure of our own belief and must fight bitterly to defend what we do not know.
Secure, kind, loving godly people have no need to fight to defend their stance, they know nothing anyone does to them can change what they believe. The insecure person does not want to self reflect, in their mind it might make them inferior to have to admit they need work.
May we develop an attitude of grace and calmness as we speak truth, even in the face of false accusation. Remember Christ is our defender, we have no need to do revenge or intimidate others into believing our way.
If someone is intimidated into believing something then that change in them is not a change in their character, only outward change to remain friends.
Believers have no need to compromise their character or their belief simply to keep friends. We have the best friend anyone can have, that is the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in us.
The silent treatment will be employed as others reject the truth teller, a sort of punishment for just being who we are. They want us to be like them. When we will not be like them they will punish us through banishment.
Sadly we see many in the church compromising truth to be friendly. They have dumbed down the Scriptures to bring in many superficial rebellious people to maintain many friendships. The church is no longer a place of holiness but a place filled with rebellious people who love the world and their entertainment.
“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats” – Charles Spurgeon.
Spurgeon was quite prophetic in this quote, perhaps he could see it coming because he knew the Bible and he knew the Lord Jesus Christ.
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