“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words. Proverbs 23:9 (NKJV)

Sometimes it just isn’t worth the effort of debating Scripture with someone. Some people will try to draw believers out just to argue with them. Part of it is due to arrogance, but most of it is due to the fact that they hate being convicted of sin. They figure if they can find some error in your thinking or make you look stupid, it somehow justifies their wrong lifestyle. Steer clear of such people if possible. If you can’t, and they try to provoke you or argue with you, just keep your thoughts to yourself.

Our tendency is to try to win everyone to the Lord, which is a good thing. However, we must be discerning and wise about it. Some people do not want the Lord and they never will. Their game is to mock and belittle the God they detest. And the easiest way for them to do that is to harrass believers.

There are others who may receive Christ at some point in time, but not at the present time. With these people, once you understand where they are, sow a few simple seeds into their lives and move on. Just a comment or two to let them know God loves them and isn’t mad at them is sufficient. If you spend too much time trying to win someone who isn’t yet ready, you may just end up pushing them further away from God.

When we argue with someone over the Word, we just give the devil ammunition. It is easy to fall into the trap of pride and want to prove you are right. However, the price you’ll pay to show you’re correct is too high, and the other person is rarely truly convinced.

Be wise. Don’t waste your time on the wrong people. Don’t take the devil’s bait to debate with them. God doesn’t need us to defend Him. When you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right people, doors will open for you to witness without arguing with them. And that’s when real soul winning can be done.