How do you answer a fool according to his folly?

In the way that will push him closest to Jesus.

That may mean a firm hand. Other times it may mean silence. Other times still, it may take patience, teaching, and forgiveness.

There’s not a cookie-cutter, apply-just-this-way answer. Well, unless we say: Listen to the Spirit’s prompting and follow accordingly.

So what does that mean?

It means we’re ambassadors for the King. The fool is in rebellion. But the King still longs for him. And so we answer with the fool in mind, not his folly.