MORE DISTINCTIONS:
Does hypocrisy, or lack of balance, cause a sound argument to become unsound?
1. There is a distinction between WISE CONDUCT, and a SOUND ARGUMENT.
They are not the same.
2. As Christians, God DOES want us to use both wise conduct and sound arguments... but these things are not the same, they are distinct propositions, and one is not necessarily contingent on the other.
To confuse "wise conduct" and "sound arguments'" is to commit the very definition of an ad hominem fallacy.
An ad hominem error occurs when we say there is something WRONG WITH A PERSON, and therefore his ARGUMENT FAILS.
This is great rhetoric when we just want to smear someone, but it isn't logically sound.
It doesn't work.
3. If someone is arguing for a certain Bible principle, which is clearly given in scritpure... THAT ALONE is a sound argument for a Christian.
Any sound argument is based on sound reasoning... not on the character of the person giving the argument.
4. If the person giving a sound argument is hypocritical or unbalanced, well the argument is still JUST AS SOUND...
but now you just hearing a sound argument from an unbalanced or hypocritical person.
But regardless of the person's character, a sound argument is still a sound argument.
Now, God CERTAINLY wants us to live with integrity, and compassion, and not be hypocrites.
God CLEARLY wants us to behave well.
However, someone's poor character does NOT change the soundness of a sound argument... it just makes us dislike him.
5. In zi's defense, I'll add that if we argue scripture in an unbecoming way, no one is going to listen, and it IS going to upset people. And it's certainly NOT the right way to do things.
However, according to the Bible, even if we DO share God's principles politely and gently, people are STILL going to get upset!
Nonetheless, we are still told to be polite, and treat people with compassion.
It is better for people to be upset with us without a cause... that's how it's supposed to be.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.