The last post was about how to deal with a person/situation when there is a disagreement. But there ARE times when it is wrong NOT to engage a person with a different opinion.
First… before engaging the person there are a few things to remember:
Always be respectful…
Make every attempt not to be virulent or accusatory…
Never denigrate to calling names or making defamatory comments (Calling a person a name doesn’t make them wrong)…
Love and truth must be your #1 motivation (Winning isn’t the goal, God’s glory is. 1 Cor 10:31).
Now, when is it RIGHT to engage a person who has a different opinion? Here are a few suggestions for consideration (These are not hard and fast, just suggestions):
When God’s glory and name are being disparaged, it is time to engage the person…
When God’s Word is misrepresented or misused, it is time to engage the person…
When the good and unity of God’s people (The church) are at stake, it is time to engage the person…
When the safety and wellbeing of others is at stake, it is time to engage the person…
When you are being misrepresented in relation to God’s Truth or His call on your life, it may be time to engage the person (Sometimes silence and no response is the best approach to take. After all, Jesus did say to turn the other cheek.)…
Those are just a few for consideration. I hope you noticed there are many situations that were left out… on purpose. Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean you (Or I!) need to say anything.