As a Christian should we even be replying to those that mock and ridicule our faith?

Question

From Proverbs: 9

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

Answer 1

You sound to be strong in faith, and I think that you know the answer for your question. However, I will print the answer for you right from the Holy Bible. I will refer to Act:5:33-42, so bare with me to read the answer of your question. You will read about how the believers were treated by those who refused to listen and ridiculed them infront of every body, and how they reacted to that kind of treatment:

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Answer 2

Of course, always reply. That is our teaching. Funny though that Christianity has been around for a couple thousand years, while the theory of evolution has been around about 100. Yet they claim that they have all the answers and yet they do not even know the question. I have been mocked, told to get some books, basically that they are smarter then me. So....in a few short years, with little or no real proof of what they are talking about, they claim to know it all. Funny though that there are Christians that are scienists. There are a ever increasing number of scienists that have changed their minds about the theory, but surely they are just making up stories.

I wrote an answer this morning about the ten commandments. Evolutionists and atheists seldom bring up the subject because that is an argument they can not win or mock Christians about.

God Bless and keep right on talking.

Answer 3

Good question.

I guess it depends. I try - sometimes I have to try REALLY, REALLY hard - not to insult those who ridicule Christians. I skip the crass ones, but I do answer some questions that mock my faith. I think it's important to act like Christ in this world. He died for all of us. He died so that everyone has the chance for eternal happiness, and that doesn't exclude those who hate or deny Him.

We are all sinners, and my hope is that bearing witness to Christ might open the hearts of those filled with hate. With Him all things are possible. Look at St. Augustine, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Paul. St. Paul! What a jerk! Yet, he was converted into one of the greatest apostles.

Answer 4

It is kind of a judgment call, you are not just replying to the mocker, you are posting an answer for everyone else to see also.

For mockers, I usually just give a cut & paste from some appologestics website so that people can see the obvious answer for themselves.

For really stupid questions, I just ignore them -- since if you feed the trolls, they will keep posting just to get attention.

Answer 5

2 peter 3:3-7 " at the start, you ought to comprehend that throughout the final days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their very own evil desires. they are going to say, "the place is this 'coming' He promised? Ever when you consider that our fathers died, each little thing is going on because it has by way of fact the commencing up of creation." yet they intentionally ignore that throughout the past by using God's be conscious the heavens existed and the earth became shaped out of water and by using water. by using those waters additionally the international of that factor became deluged and destroyed. by using the comparable be conscious the present heavens and earth are reserved for hearth, being saved for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly adult men. " This Verse would not are evoked whilst speaking with all atheists, yet in basic terms people who've a tendency to taunt and scoff at us. additionally observe that it says DESTRUCTION.... not eternal torment.

Answer 6

As a rule, I try not to even look at the questions that I'm fairly certain are blasphemous mockeries of my Lord. It breaks my heart to see the blatant attacks on Christianity. I don't attack those I don't agree with, but I see others do it on a regular basis. Some of them in every question or answer they post. I do know that but for the grace of God, there go I, so don't feel all righteous and dignified for avoiding such behavior. I think that if the Holy Spirit leads you to post a reply, then listen to Him, but if left to our own leading, we tend to post out of hurt or anger. Just granny's two cents.

Answer 7

Some people mock what they don't understand...
Perhaps you can try to enlighten them... that wouldn't be correcting them...

I always thought if you corrected the wise they would hate you.. because they know already.. and nothing is more annoying then when you know alot about something and someone comes along and tries to tell you you're wrong.

Answer 8

That's what the Catholic Church programs it's followers to do. That is why they are so blindly loyal despite the fact they usually defer all so called spiritual questions to their celibate priests. Catholics can get just as incensed as the ignorant Muslims do when they riot every time a Jew farts.

Answer 9

Open and pointless mockery is just that - there's no real point in engaging with it. Mockery used as a gentling agent to raise a genuine issue or question might simply be a way for someone not of your faith to get attention so you can bring them the light of your experience and reading, and help them no longer need to mock because they understand.

I myself often use a kind of gentle mockery, or extend Biblical logic to its ultimate conclusion, to raise questions of inconsistency and validity. This is not intended to hurt or harm Christians - it's a frequently overlooked fact that many Christians do an overwhelming mount of good in the world, as do many ordinary Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists and so on. My only genuine targets are those who hide the sword of hate in the words of god (any god!), and those I will stand against till there's no breath left in me, so extremist points of view can be balanced and sometimes, yes, pierced with mockery, because they do no good to anyone, moderate Christians least of all.

Peace and your god go with you.

Answer 10

No you shouldn't dignify the smart-*** questions with an answer. Likewise, a hostile question about 'non-believers' should be ignored as well.