Part 2: Jesus Never Called Us to Win Every Argument
Key Passage: 1 Peter 2:21–23 (CSB)
“For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.”
Our culture puts a high value on winning.
We admire people who have quick comebacks, strong arguments, and loud voices. Social media has made this even more common. Now, every disagreement turns into a debate, every criticism seems to need a reply, and every accusation feels like a challenge to prove ourselves.
Many Christians have started thinking this way without even realizing it.
We often think we have to defend ourselves if someone criticizes us. If someone gets us wrong, we feel we need to set the record straight. When someone insults us, we feel like we have to come back with an even stronger response.
But when we look at Jesus, we see a very different example.
Peter reminds us that Christ is not just our Savior, but also our example.
“Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)
That statement should make us stop and think.
How did Jesus respond when He was treated unfairly?
Peter answers the question clearly.
“When he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)
Think about what Jesus chose not to do.
He did not retaliate.
He did not seek revenge.
He did not try to humiliate His critics.
He did not obsess over changing everyone’s opinion.
Instead, Peter says He entrusted Himself to the Father.
This idea is at the center of the passage.
Jesus trusted God with His reputation, His future, and justice.
This does not mean Jesus ignored evil. It means He trusted God, the perfect Judge, to handle it at the right time.
There is an end. Surrender and defeat are very different things.”There is nothing I can do.”
Surrender says, “God, I trust what You will do.”
Many believers miss out on Christ’s peace because they hold on to the need to prove themselves right.
We replay conversations in our minds.
We imagine what we should have said.
We draft responses that we never send.
We sometimes lose sleep over arguments that won’t matter in the long run.
Meanwhile, the enemy is glad because our focus has moved away from Christ.
One of Satan’s main tactics is not always to make believers give up their faith. Often, he just wants to distract them with conflict.
If he can keep us busy arguing and defending ourselves, he takes away time we could use to serve, love, pray, and share the gospel.
That’s why Proverbs gives us such helpful wisdom.
“Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness or you’ll be like him yourself.” (Proverbs 26:4)
This verse doesn’t say truth isn’t important. Instead, it reminds us that not every conversation is helpful.
Some people are not looking for understanding.
They are looking for conflict.
Some people ask questions not because they want answers but because they want an argument.
Jesus recognized this repeatedly during His earthly ministry.
There were moments when He answered sincere seekers with patience and clarity. Nicodemus came at night with genuine questions, and Jesus patiently explained the necessity of being born again (John 3).
But when religious leaders questioned Him only to trap Him, His responses were often brief, a question in return, or complete silence.
Why?
Because Jesus understood that not every debate deserved His participation.
That’s the kind of wisdom many believers really need today.
Think about how much peace you’d have if you stopped feeling like you had to answer every criticism.
Imagine how much more energy you’d have for ministry if you stopped chasing after every accusation.
Think about how much joy you’d get back if you stopped measuring your success by what others think.
Paul reminds us where our focus belongs.
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
See how there’s a balance here.
We pursue peace.
We speak truth.
We show kindness.
But we can’t control how others react.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, people will misunderstand you.
Sometimes they will believe lies.
Sometimes they will criticize your obedience to Christ.
Jesus warned us this would happen.
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
If even the perfect Son of God was misunderstood, why would we expect everyone to understand us?
Following Jesus does not guarantee universal approval.
In fact, being faithful often brings opposition.
The question, then, is not whether criticism will come.
The question is how we will respond when it does.
Will we react like the world?
Or will we respond like Christ?
The answer is humility.
A lot of our urge to defend ourselves comes from hurt pride.
We want people to think highly of us.
We want our reputation protected.
We want everyone to know that we were right. But the Bible teaches that our identity isn’t based on what others think, but on our relationship with Christ.st.
If God has declared you His child through faith in Jesus, no false accusation can change that.
If Christ has forgiven your sin, no critic can remove His grace.
If your identity is secure in Christ, your peace doesn’t depend on everyone else’s approval.
This doesn’t mean we should be passive or not care.
There are certainly occasions when a calm explanation is wise and necessary. Leaders may need to clarify facts. Parents may need to correct false assumptions. Believers are called to defend the truth of the gospel with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
But there’s a big difference between standing up for the gospel and just defending our own pride.
One is motivated by love for God’s truth.
The other is motivated by love for ourselves.
Before responding to criticism, it is worth asking a few honest questions.
Am I trying to glorify Christ?
Or am I trying to protect my ego?
Am I responding because God is leading me to speak?
Or because my emotions are demanding the last word?
The Holy Spirit often speaks most clearly in the quiet moment between being hurt and how we respond.
Take that pause.
Pray.
Ask God to be part of the situation before you reply, send a text, or make a call.
You may discover that what felt urgent was actually unnecessary.
You might find that staying silent isn’t a sign of weakness, but of confidence.
You might realize that God can protect your reputation much better than you ever could.
Jesus never called His followers to win every argument.
He called us to follow Him.
Sometimes that means speaking truth boldly.
Sometimes it means remaining silent with confidence.
In both cases, our goal stays the same: not to protect our own image, but to show Christ’s character.
Reflection Questions
- Do you feel the need to respond to every criticism or misunderstanding?
- Have you confused defending your pride with defending God’s truth?
- What would it look like to entrust your reputation to “the one who judges justly” this week?
Tomorrow: Your reputation is safer in God’s hands than in your own. We’ll look at David’s life and see why God’s approval is more secure than public opinion, and how real freedom starts when we stop trying to control what others think of us.
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 