Those who love to engage in discussion generally lose their spirituality. They do not trust in God as they should. They have the theory of the truth prepared to whip an opponent. The feelings of their own unsanctified hearts have prepared many sharp, close things to use as a snap to their whip to irritate and provoke their opponent. The spirit of Christ has no part in this. While furnished with conclusive arguments, the debater soon thinks that he is strong enough to triumph over his opponent, and God is left out of the matter. Some of our ministers have made discussion their principal business. When in the midst of the excitement raised by discussion, they seem nerved up and feel strong and talk strong; and in the excitement many things pass with the people as all right, which in themselves are decidedly wrong and a shame to him who was guilty of uttering words so unbecoming a Christian minister. {3T 215.2}

Dem som elsker at gå i diskussion mister normalt deres åndelighed. De har ikke tillid til Gud som de skulle. De har sandhedens teori klar til at kaste sig over en modstander med. Deres uhelligede hjerter har forberedt mange skarpe, skarpskårne ting til brug som pisk for at plage og irritere og provokere deres modstander. Kristi Ånd har ingen del i dette. Når de kommer frem med de afgørende argumenter, tænker meddebattøren hurtigt at han er stærk nok til at sejre over deres modstand og Gud er ladet ude af sagen. Nogle af vore prædikanter har gjort diskussion til deres hovedtema. Midt i diskussionens hede, synes de at være opirrede og føle sig stærke og tale stærkt; og i din ophidselse ryger mange ting ud, som i sig selv er helt forkert og er til skam for ham, (216) og som gør sig skyldig i at sige ord, der upassende for en kristen tjener.