By Chris Surber

I don’t fish very often. When I do it’s usually just me and the kids down at a pond with some of those stinky little jarred bait pellets, tiny hooks, and our cartoon-character fishing poles.

But those little sunfish are so quick to bite; they’ll take a nibble on everything thrown in the water. Some fish are so aggressive they’ll take any bait.

I’m usually not like that. It takes a lot to bait me into a debate or move me beyond reason. But recently I allowed someone to bait me into nibbling on their stinky bait. It was foolish of me. It was worse than that. Sharp comments to skeptics are no way to win them to Christ. In fact, that’s a good way to push them further away.

Occasionally a believer in Jesus is asked an honest question about his faith or the Bible or some other question arising from legitimate interest. Most often, skeptics and naysayers are merely tossing bait in the water to see how voracious our appetite is. They like the sport of it. They enjoy the splash and the struggle of reeling us in.

Generally I follow this simple rule. Never argue with someone baiting you into an argument. Remember that he, too, has a right to his own opinion, even if it’s wrong. Arguing seldom, if ever, leads to anything productive. True, engaged debate on a topic is rare. Changing someone’s mind from falsehood to truth is even rarer — especially when we allow the rules of dialogue to devolve below the boundaries of mutual respect.

The wisdom of Proverbs 12:23 is relevant here. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.” (ESV) Jesus said, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6 ESV)

If someone is skeptical and yet still genuinely seeking God, we have every responsibility to share the substance of our faith.

But when a pure skeptic is tossing bait in the water just to see if we’ll bite, the best response is a gentle answer and a life of honest loving faith lived out. (Romans 12:20-21) If the skeptic keeps baiting the water and will not stop, the best answer is no answer.

The very worst thing you can do is what I did when I returned a harsh word with a sharp tongue. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

The next time someone tosses his bait in my pond, you can bet I’ll remember that easy bait is a good way to get a hook in your mouth. Louis Brandeis wrote that “Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.” Next time I’m going to make sure it isn’t mine.

Chris Surber is pastor of Cypress Chapel Christian Church in Suffolk. Visit his website at www.chrissurber.com.