There may be times when you’ll need to strengthen your own ideas by misrepresenting my ideas so let me show you how to construct a proper ‘strawman argument.’
If, for example, I suggest that Christians should exercise discretion when giving away resources rather than just blindly giving things to anyone who claims to be in need, you can ‘strawman’ my argument by saying something like:
“JOHN, YOU JERK!!! You’re against generosity!!! I can give whatever I want to whoever I want and it’s not your place to judge who is worthy of charity!!! STOP JUDGING!!!”
That is an excellent strawman representation of my position! It falsely accuses me of being opposed to something good (generosity). It implies that I said you cannot be generous to whomever you wish (something I didn’t even hint at). So the first two statements argue against things I didn’t say. (The last statement is merely hypocrisy because you’re judging that it is YOUR place to tell me that judging is not MY place.)
That’s the key to a good strawman. Instead of responding to my actual beliefs, you must ascribe some wild, outrageous, ideology to me. The kookier it sounds, the better!
“You’re saying that we shouldn’t feed people who aren’t grateful?!!”
“You don’t think needy people should be given any help at all!!!”
“You think poor people should be put in prison!!!”
“You use destitute souls in your furnace to heat your home!!!!!!”
Christians, you are free to use strawman arguments to beat down anyone who disagrees with you but I need to issue a warning: you’re being dishonest which is a sin. Disrespect is making no attempt to understand another person’s point of view. You are not treating me in the manner that you wish to be treated when you mischaracterize my statements then dismiss me as an extremist lunatic. That is, by definition, what it means to ‘marginalize’ someone.
(1 Peter 2:16) Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.