You may have been offended. I recently was.
After the emotions settled down, I realize during that time of strong disappointment, anger and frustration, I was not doing well at placing myself at the will of God, instead, I was more basking in selfishness and capitulating to weaknesses.
A Christian should cultivate a view that an antagonist may need the gospel. The foundation for presenting the gospel, or at least acting with goodwill, requires us to become more spiritually guarded and aware,
Avoiding the pitfall in an unexpected rough moment, diverting oneself from a callous response, challenges one to pray to ask the Holy Spirit to take charge. You may have to buy some time with a simple neutral response to give yourself some space to avoid succumbing to an insensitive knee-jerk response.
Mindfully standing back is helpful to gain a bigger picture of why another person is on the edge or has gone over the edge.
As a daily discipline, a Christian should be striving to always act with God’s higher purposes and to be ready for each opportunity.
Be open to the will of God. Endeavor to not judge others, even if you find them offensive. It’s easier to take a stance for God, letting God work through us when we realize that we are all lost souls saved only by the grace of a merciful God.
I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom from the Apostle Paul:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as [f]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, [i]clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:17-32
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
P.S. Typos and all, I do not use AI.
12.9.23