Should Christians Debate Unbelievers or Churchgoers? What the Bible Says

Summary

Many Christians believe they should debate unbelievers or argue about religion with other churchgoers. But did Jesus actually instruct His followers to debate people who reject the scriptural message? This Scripture-based study examines what the Bible says about arguing, persuasion, and when believers should walk away. Using passages from Jesus and the apostles, it shows why the Bible often instructs believers to share truth when asked — and then move on if people refuse to listen.

Should Christians Debate Unbelievers and Churchgoers?
What Does “Shake the Dust Off Your Feet” Mean?
The More Truth People Reject, the Deeper Their Hell Becomes
Other Scripture with a Similar Message
How Do We Use This Knowledge in Today’s World?

1. Should Christians Debate Unbelievers and Churchgoers?

- Unbelievers: Non-Christians.

- Church Christians: People who attend church or identify as Christian but follow church traditions or doctrines that conflict with Scripture. Related study: Are we True Christians?

The answer, based on the Bible references below, is no — Christians should not debate unbelievers or argue endlessly about faith.

Jesus was very clear on this question. Don't get into endless debates and arguing, not only with non-Christians, but also with today's lost churchgoers.

2. What Does “Shake the Dust Off Your Feet” Mean?

This phrase comes from Jesus' instructions to His disciples when people refused to listen to the message of the gospel. When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, to nearby towns, He said:

Matthew 10:14
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

He didn't say stay and convince them, or debate with them. He said leave!

3. The More Truth People Reject, the Deeper Their Hell Becomes

Why did Jesus say not to argue with people, and just leave? Because even when people reject Him, He still loves them enough and cares enough to avoid deepening their hell!! When non-Christians (or today's churchgoers) argue with believers who are sharing the truth of Scripture, the more truths they hear from us and reject, the deeper their hell becomes ("many blows"):

Luke‬ ‭12:47-48 Jesus said:

‬“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows...

These verses are very clear - Those who know the Scriptures well, and still reject it, will be punished more severely by God = deeper hell. But the person who never heard the Gospel, this person's punishment is much less ("a few blows") = shallower hell. See Truths about Heaven & Hell for more on levels in both.

John‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬, ‭24‬

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.”

Similar statements from Jesus, confirming the same - The more you know and reject, the deeper your hell will be. And the less you know, the less guilty you are in the eyes of God! And therefore, will likely not be in a punishing hell later.

And this from Jesus, telling us about people who witnessed miracles and still rejected God! He used the term "woe to you... on judgement day":

Matthew 11:20-24

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

"It would be more bearable on judgement day for those who did not witness miracles, than for you who witnessed miracles!!" Jesus said. What does this mean? Those who saw miracles, and still rejected, go to a deeper hell than those who didn't see miracles.

Hell is a place far away from God, where His absence results in a hell state of many depth levels. God does not want to send people to hell! It is the opposite! He did everything He could to keep us from hell! Jesus suffered and died a miserable death on the cross, for what? To keep us from hell! But it is our call - we have to accept Him, listen to His words, believe, and keep His commands! See What Does “Believe in Jesus” Really Mean?

4. Other Scripture with a Similar Message

More passages with a similar "do not debate" meaning:

Titus 3:9-10

Avoid foolish controversies and arguments about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

2 Timothy 2:23-24

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

This passage from Jesus explains how He does not want to fully clarify everything. This is because He expects those who truly care, to look closer, and dig deeper under the surface to understand.

Matthew 13:10-16

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Note that He is Jesus / God. He speaks with foreknowledge. We don't have that visibility. So we just be careful when we sense strong resistance.

This is consistent with other passages in the Bible:

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

And,

Matthew 7:6

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

5. How Do We Use This Knowledge in Today’s World?

Jesus effectively asked us to use our judgement when facing others. When the subject is being discussed, present our true Christian views. But the moment we sense a dead-end, stop and retreat. Sadly some of these can be members of your own family:

Luke 12:52-53 Jesus said:

From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

I personally know a family with some of them attending a Catholic church, and some attending a Calvinist church. And they are constantly in endless debates, and at each-others throats, hating and shunning each-other! There you have it. Jesus' prediction - fulfilled.

Do not start presenting your Christian views in a setting where people are not interested in the subject! God does not want to shove His word down people's throats!

If you push your views when there is no interest, you would be behaving in disgrace. It is not God’s ways. If you say, "just for a little bit; I'm sure I'll convince them". You're disobeying Jesus' command, and deepening these people's hell!!

Also note that God already knows who accepted and who rejected, and went ahead and gave those who rejected, eyes that can't see and ears that can't hear. See Calvinist, Presbyterian, Reformed, Biblical? for more on God's foreknowledge. But we don't know who's who. This is why first we check, then decide to continue or back-off, accordingly.

Last updated: March 4, 2026

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