As soon as a preacher comes down from the position a minister should ever occupy, and descends to the comical to create a laugh over his opponent, or when he is sarcastic and sharp, and rails upon him, he does that which the Saviour of the world did not dare to do; for he places himself upon the enemy’s ground. Ministers who contend with opposers of the truth of God do not have to meet men merely, but Satan and his host of evil angels. Satan watches for a chance to get the advantage of ministers who are advocating the truth, and when they cease to put their entire trust in God, and their words are not in the spirit and love of Christ, the angels of God cannot strengthen and enlighten them. They leave them to their own strength, and evil angels press in their darkness; for this reason the opponents of the truth sometimes seem to have the advantage, and the discussion does more harm than real good. {3T 220.2}

Lige så snart en forkynder kommer ned fra den position en prædikant altid bør have og nedværdiger sig til det komiske for at gøre sine modstander til grin, eller når han er sarkastisk og skarp og skælder ham ud, gør han det som verdens Frelser ikke vovede at gøre; for han sætter sig selv på fjendens grund. Prædikanter som slås med Guds sandheds modstandere møder ikke blot mennesker, men Satan og hans hær af onde engle. Satan vover efter en chance for at få fordel frem for sandhedens forsvarende tjenere og når de ophører med at stole helt på Gud og deres (221) ord ikke er i Kristi kærlighed og ånd, kan Guds engle ikke oplyse dem. De overlader sig til deres egen styrke og onde engle presser deres mørke ind; og af denne grund synes sandhedens modstandere at have fordel og diskussionen gør mere skade en reelt godt.