Answering a fool?
Some things are difficult to let go, and yet we must if we are to retain our sanity and our dignity. I get notifications about public comments on our listings for the church and for the dog park online. There have been some doosies. We once got a complaint that the dog park didn’t have a bathroom. Really? Is there something about it which made you think we could spend $30k to put in a toilet? (not to mention the church was open when they were here).
A couple of weeks back someone posted something about their experience at the dog park which I knew to be false. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to have it taken down as they were simply posting their opinion (along with something I know was untrue about another patron of the park).
My first instinct was to respond politely, but to call them out on their statement. I thought better of it and merely ignored it. After all, they hadn’t criticized the park perse, they were just being a bit annoying because they don’t like someone else. The best thing was to ignore it and let it get buried in the dozens of positive posts.
Proverbs 26:4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Proverbs 15:18. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Proverbs 26:17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. Proverbs 26:20. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Sometimes, it’s just better to leave things alone. Other times, perhaps not.
Years back someone I had never met and had never entered this church (and they said so) was attacking me personally, and the church in general, on our Google listing. Saying blatantly false and self-contradictory things. I decided that it needed to be addressed.
Proverbs 26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 22:10. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
I didn’t argue with them but rather went to Google itself and pointed out that he admitted to never having met me or been inside the church. Thankfully, Google did the right thing and removed the post. Which he put back up with various changes seven times, and they removed each time.
It is difficult to know when to answer a fool according to their folly, but read your bible for insight, use prayer, discernment, and wise counsel and it will often bring a blessed result.