Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
In a world that is increasingly divided and I would say more opinionated and confrontational due to social media with platforms which reward polarizing views, a passage like this becomes our playbook for interactions.
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First of all, avoid as many arguments as you can. Everyone has an opinion and that's what makes them different than you. If everyone was like you, the world would be a boring place. If everyone was like me, there would be no New York style pizza, country music, pickup trucks, Cubs, soda water, Rom-coms, horror movies, piercings and tattoos, cats and I could go on. Just think of all the things that would be missing that make the world so diverse. Embrace different opinions and don't feel the need to tell why they are wrong, in non-essentials.
When you feel the need to speak the truth in issues that do matter, such as the family, sexuality, abortion, the gospel, the Bible and the like, Paul instructs don't be quarrelsome but speak thoughtfully, gently and kindly as you give your case for why you believe what you do. Paul says that they probably won't accept it, but you just pray that at some point in their lives the Holy Spirit opens their mind to it. The Devil has gotten hold of their minds and instead of getting mad that they don't think rationally on a subject, feel bad for them that they can't see clearly.
It's not up to us to change people's minds. It's up to us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, not be quarrelsome, know our case and be able to articulate it. God will do the changing.
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