1st Peter 2:19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
A disposition to argue with anyone and for any reason is not in keeping with the spirit or the letter of the law of God, and when it manifests itself in Christians, it can do very real damage to the cause of Christ. There are those who insist on having the last word in a disagreement, and some of us are found to be strong-willed and quick-tempered, characteristics and attitudes that are foreign to the kingdom of God, and the principles for which it stands.
The strength of a Christian's character is not measured by how much his feelings controls him, but rather by how much he can control his feelings. Some of us have erroneously come to the conclusion that an unbridled manifestation of emotion is a sign of strong convictions, and because of this we are sometimes driven to go overboard in speaking and acting in an unbecoming manner.
But when we look at our great Exemplar, we see that He remained calm amidst the roaring of the mob when they were clamoring for His life. There was much cause for valid argument which Christ could have used to expose the perfidy of His accusers, but He steadfastly refused to take that route. Insult after insult was hurled at Him, and one individual even went so far as to spit in His face, yet not a mumbling word of remonstrance escaped His lips, nor did He harbor any feelings of anger, resentment, or revenge against His foes. His only response to all that inhumane abuse was, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". Let's read:
Luke 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Now It is true that we will never be called upon to go through the brutal harassment, heckling, and ill-treatment that Christ received, yet there are very precious lessons that we can learn from His experience, as it pertains to overcoming an argumentative spirit. # (1) We should never ever start our day without prayer, or without renewing our commitment to serve God, to be guided by Him as He strengthens us with might in the inner man, so as to deflect the sudden darts of the devil that are sometimes hurled at us for no reason.
A soldier does not wait until he enters the battlefield before he is prepared, but rather gets his gear and his weaponry in tip top shape, before even thinking about engaging in any warfare. On a much more intense level should be the preparation of our hearts every morning, because there are times when satan sits right at our doorsteps, lurking with some unforeseen snare, which if yielded to, can spoil our entire day, and cause us to misrepresent Christ in some very despicable ways. Hence the reason why Christ cautions us be clad every day with the whole armor of God, from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, so that if a sudden barrage of angry words are hurled at us, they would not incite us to retaliate or respond in like manner, that will bring reproach to the cause of Christ. Let's read:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
#(2) Another snare we should avoid is that of raising our voices to a feverish pitch, in order to drown out those with whom we may disagree. This will call for stern self-denial and very firm self-control, graces which can only blossom and truly be exercised through the power of the indwelling Christ. It is never necessary to raise our voices above all others in order to be heard, for in many volatile situations, when burning words and epithets are flying left and right, the Christian who by the grace of God remains calm, often speaks more eloquently by his or her silence and self-restraint, rather than adding fuel to the flames. Satan often provokes us to retaliate verbally when our rights are deliberately violated by someone, and it is at times like these when we need the Spirit of God to pervade our thoughts and actions, lest we blow a fuse, and release a torrent of angry words that are as a withering blight to the hearers. Let's read:
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.
#(3) Harboring a forgiving spirit will do much more to keep us calm under verbal abuse, than will all other methods and techniques combined. The disposition to get even is productive of great evil and should not be cultivated by the Christian, for it is contrary to the principle of self-abnegation which stands front and center of all the disciplines of the Christian's life. It was Christ who said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me", and this principle of self-denial will find exercise in those volatile situations in which our carnal nature clamors for revenge, justice, or arbitration.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which sums up the godly principles we should espouse, especially as it pertains to forgiving one another and moving on, and it is our sincere prayer and desire, that as we study the character of Christ, that we too may be changed from the inside out. Let's read:
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
May God add his blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!