There is an unfortunately large number of people who believe that “right and obnoxious” is an effective tool of evangelism — thus putting the “tool” in “tool of evangelism”. Haha.
Pride is a nefarious sin ... there comes a point when being “right” in a debate is no longer about what is right, it is about vanity (i.e. proving you’re the smartest, holiest, most Christian one in the room).
We are called to spread God’s word, not to convert people. We don’t convert people ... Christ converts people through us, and he does so more often through love, service and humility than through arrogance and belligerence.
Is it possible that we’ve gotten so caught up in being “right” that we’ve lost sight of what it is to be “good”? Is “right and obnoxious” on doctrinal matters really preferable to “wrong and humble” (though wrong and obnoxious would clearly be the worst of all possibilities)? Do the doctrinally wrong require more forgiveness (Grace) to correct doctrinal errors than the right need to correct for pridefulness?
SnakeDoc
I believe that one cannot receive the Grace of forgiveness until one has repented of one's sins. (Repentance, of course, is also a Grace.) One cannot repent of sins, until one recognises them as sins (also a Grace). It seems to me that recognising Sinful Pride is much more difficult than recognising doctrinal error.
Possibly; but the FACT is that we’ve gotten so caught up in being “good” that we’ve lost the GONADS to state what is RIGHT!