That's the problem right there....when you treat eternal things with the same regard or disregard as temporal things.
And this is to you what I am doing?
Because I think that none of us are perfected yet, and that within the body of Christ, all may share to build each other up. We can both give to others and receive from others if we are willing.
They (the eternal things) are on an entirely different level whereby the normal process of the carnal mind is unwelcome. The things of the Spirit are foolishness to the natural man. So the debate always devolves into the opinion of someone who is devoid of life and truth....and from a personal opinion formulated by the natural mind.
As soon as I see the unbelief in a poster...I avoid that person.
I find that the debates tend to turn to ad hominems whenever someone finds they can't Biblically present their POV. Statements are made, sweeping and vast declarations, but when confronted with Scripture, the poster will use actually any number of fleshy devices to avoid answering.
Sometimes this comes as above, "you're not a Christian, so I don't have to listen to/engage with you". One could simply step away from responding.
But truth will stand up to the test. A true doctrine comes from all Scripture, not cherry picked Scripture.
When we determine whether we will hear what another is saying by our perceptions of that person, in particular when we are purportedly all Christians in a discussion of Christianity and the Bible, rather than whether what they say is Scripture, then I think we risk making a mistake.
Who is it that is so convinced of their doctrine?
Much love!
Mark