Should Christians Engage In Debates With Non-Christians?

1 Timothy 6:20 – Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

1 Timothy 6:21 – which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don’t pay any attention to godless and STUPID TALK THAT SOUNDS SMART but really isn’t. (Contemporary English Version)

Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. AVOID the profane talk and FOOLISH ARGUMENTS of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.” (Good News Translation)

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and OPPOSITIONS OF SCIENCE falsely so called: (King James Bible)

Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. AVOID GODLESS, FOOLISH DISCUSSIONS with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. (New Living Translation)

1 Timothy 6:20  And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. AVOID TALK-SHOW RELIGION and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. 6:21  People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you! (Message Bible)

Apostle Paul instructs Pastor Timothy his apprentice to completely avoid debates with non-Christians. Different versions translate the Greek words differently but the bottom line is that Timothy shouldn’t participate in such debates. Avoid them completely is the message!

Apostle Paul warns that the debate may look scientific, knowledgeable and very smart but it is not. Those involved may sound smart but they are not. Timothy is told to completely avoid what another version calls talk-show religion.

When a non-believer asks questions they want to learn. A learner’s attitude isn’t argumentative. As you progress the learner appreciates clarification. Where a Christian is teaching a non-Christian there is progress in learning.

In a debate the participants are interested in our doing each other. The participants listen with an interest to prove the believer wrong and prove themselves right. In such debates there is no consensus nor progress. Everyone holds their position firmly.

In debates they’re winners and losers. In learning settings there are learners (non-believers) and resource persons (believers). Where there are winners and losers spiritual convictions hardly take place because egos are bruised.

Where there are winners and losers people become wordy to look knowledgeable when actually expressing a very small point or saying nothing. Small things are magnified. Unnecessary details are added to show knowledge but only brings confusion. Unverifiable historical data and quotations are thrown in to show knowledge but hardly convincing.

In debates the winner is not the one with the truth, but the one with good debating skills. In debates therefore, truth easily becomes a casualty. Yet we are in the business of spreading the truth and not winning debates.

1 Timothy 1:3 – As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer

1 Timothy 1:4 – or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

2 Timothy 2:14 – Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

2 Timothy 2:16 – Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

2 Timothy 3:7 – always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

In many passages of his letters to Timothy, Apostle Paul warns him against arguments, discussions and debates that are not learning related. He calls them endless genealogies, quarrels, godless chatter, etc. Paul’s Timothy that such debates leave people godless.

Someone may argue that such debates help people learn. Paul tells Timothy that in debates people are ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of truth. Truth becomes a casualty. Avoid such debates!

Such debates are common among people of different religions and faith. Such debates are common on social media and other online platforms. Such debates are common in the comment section of online posts, blogs and articles. Such debates are common in public forums and meetings. Such debates are common during Bible study hour. God inspired Apostle Paul to tell Timothy and all of us to avoid such debates!

May God save us from such debates. May God humble us from the desire to win and look knowledgeable. May God make us convincing teachers and preachers of the truth. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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