There’s no more efficient way to cut off communication with someone than to attack him or her personally. People naturally go defensive when attacked. Reasoning with someone with whom you disagree is more apt to win them. Being rude to them may prevent truth from being accepted. Sadly, even some claiming Jesus as their Savior and Lord attack character rather then respectfully debating issues. There are times when so-called “righteous anger” is resorted to in an attempt to cover up our own inability to defend our position adequately. Courtesy and respect can go a long way in reasoning with most people. Even when a major Bible doctrine is at stake, taking a firm reasoned stand can be done without being mean or hateful. We must be firm against heresy, while trying to salvage the heretic. We can’t give an inch of ground to error, but some erring ones can be delivered by the truth being spoken in love. (See Ephesians 4:14-15). On a lesser plain, but important, there are issues such as politics where healthy debate may get us closer to truth then “digging in our heels.” “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Of course, there are times that someone is not reachable. Paul spoke of this to Titus: “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:10). However, not with an attitude of disgust, but with grief. If we are standing on solid Scriptural ground, There may be times when error has to be publicly rebuked. Even then, restoration is to be sought. “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more.” (From “Rescue the Perishing” by Fanny Crosby). These thoughts can also apply to somebody caught up in error. Selah! Love, teach, defend, learn and look to God for help in salvaging someone. Ron