**This response answers the question directly, provides scriptural support, flows logically, offers useful practical advice, and has a relatable tone. The writer empathizes with the questioner’s frustration yet does so with a respectful tone, remaining humble and highlighting complexities in such situations.
Question: How can I witness to an arrogant, stubborn person?
Profile: Female, North America, 60+
Answered by: Dean Revell, who has been serving on our Q&A Answer Team since July 2007
Answer: Hello and thank you for your recent question to GotQuestions. I do understand how you feel as I have recently had to deal with people like what you have described. The Lord’s people can often find themselves in situations where they seem to always come up in front of a spiritual ‘brick wall’, when it comes to trying to share their faith. To me, it seems to be pride that fuels both this arrogance and stubbornness. The Bible says many things about this; indeed, the pride of life we are told is ‘of the world’ (1 John 2:17). We also know that God opposes the proud (James 4:6); pride exalts a man to the degree that he or she thinks that they are in control. But it was this pride that exalted Satan that led to his downfall (Isaiah 14:14-15); and it was pride that was the root of the sin that caused Adam and Eve to fall, for Satan told them ‘that they would be like God, knowing both good and evil’ (Genesis 3:5).
An arrogant, stubborn person may stop you witnessing to them, but they can’t stop you praying for them! They also can’t stop you living a life that adorns the doctrines of God (Titus 2:10). The Christian is ever on the ‘stage’, under the limelight of God’s providence and mercy, but it is the world that is our ever-attentive audience. Our conversation should always be seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6), for a gentle answer turns aside wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1). We need to advertise the gospel by living according to it; we need to make the Christian profession winsome to make our faith, and most importantly our Lord, attractive; that is our calling—to do just that. We are placed at the right time and place in this world with the people that God intended us to meet, work with, and get alongside for the purpose of sharing our faith if not by word then by deeds, as well (Acts 17:27). However, the ultimate response of any person to our faith and the deeds that that faith produces has to be a work of God the Holy Spirit in the heart.
I think, in summary, you can pray for the individual that you are trying to witness to—and witness only as the opportunity arises. Some people can be very antagonistic to the gospel, which usually indicates that they see you as a threat; the ‘strong man armed’ wants to keep his spoils and hold onto his or her sin and enjoy the things of this world (Luke 11:21-22). Being a witness is a spiritual battle. Every time we seek to share the gospel, Satan will do everything in his power to stop somebody hearing it; pride tells the natural man that he or she doesn’t need the gospel. But our God is totally sovereign even in those, whom He calls to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As mentioned earlier, even if there is no opportunity to share the gospel, you can still pray and do so, earnestly. As said, you can also make the truth attractive to those to whom you would be a witness by the manner you speak and behave. Jesus tells his disciples on the sermon on the Mount that ‘You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can- not be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:15-16). So, let your light shine forth and let the world read you and enjoy your light; as the apostle Paul said ‘Let your gentleness be evident to all’! (Philippians 4:5). God bless, Dean.
