Titus 3:10–11
A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Paul now gives Titus a piece of wisdom that many believers struggle to apply.
There are moments when the most spiritual thing you can do is stop arguing.
Notice the order Paul gives.
Warn him once.
Speak the truth clearly. Point him back to the Word. Give him an opportunity to hear what is right.
If he refuses, talk with him a second time.
Not with hostility. Not with arrogance. But with patience and clarity. Sometimes people need a second conversation to really think through what they have heard.
But then Paul draws a line.
After the first and second admonition, reject him.
That does not mean hatred. It does not mean bitterness. It simply means you stop investing energy in a conversation that is going nowhere.
Think about that.
Some people are not searching for truth. They are only looking for another argument.
Paul says that kind of person is “subverted.” The word carries the idea of someone who has turned himself inside out. His thinking is twisted. And Paul adds something sobering.
He is condemned of himself.
In other words, the evidence is already there. The problem is not lack of information. The problem is refusal.
Imagine a man trying to steer a boat that is tied tightly to the dock. He can turn the wheel all day long. He can adjust the throttle. He can work every control on the dashboard.
But the boat is not going anywhere.
It is still tied to the dock.
Some arguments are like that. You can pour hours into them, thinking you are making progress. But the other person has already tied himself to his position. The discussion never moves.
Meanwhile there are people all around who are actually searching.
Neighbors. Friends. Family members.
People who would listen.
Paul’s wisdom is simple.
Speak the truth.
Speak it again if necessary.
But do not spend your life arguing with someone who has already decided not to hear it.
Because time is short, and there are still many who are ready to listen.