Avoid Ad Hominem

(Proverbs 10:6 KJV)  Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

When you don’t have an answer, attack.  That seems to be the way our culture is moving.  Maybe it has been that way a long time.  We have a phrase, ad hominem, which is a Latin term that says you are attacking the person instead of the problem.  It involves character assassination and insulting remarks which may be true but have nothing to do with the topic under discussion.  It is conversational bait and switch.

This should be a tactic only used by the “wicked” (7563).  It is interesting that in the defining of the word it comes up with the idea of being guilty.  Beware of this if someone goes for your jugular.  Armor up with grace and the fruit of the Spirit.

So what about a self check?  We are supposed to be the “righteous” (6662).  We are supposed to be different.  With a little thought and prayer we can avoid this danger and avoid becoming wicked.