A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
It is difficult to give a soft answer in response to someone raising their voice to you, insulting you, or even mocking you. But a soft, measured response will often take away all of the vitriolic energy from the other party. The soft answer is not only a good strategy to keep a conflict from getting worse, but it also helps us keep Jesus’s command to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” As human beings, when we allow ourselves to respond in kind to harsh, even hateful statements, we run the risk of becoming hateful ourselves. We are all only one emotional outburst away from not keeping what Jesus called the second greatest commandment. Answering softly is not only a strategy to keep a conflict from becoming worse, it is also a strategy to live a holy life. This type of response helps you and the person who is trying to be in conflict with you.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18
To live peaceably with all does not mean agreeing with all that others do. It also does not mean subjecting yourself to any type of truly hurtful abuse. It does mean that when you can, overlook comments that are meant to insult you and make you angry. We have a great deal of control over our response to any situation, in fact, that is often the only kind of control that we have. Remembering that all people are fallen and capable of saying terrible things, including you, can help you change your perspective about someone who is rude and contentious toward you. We never know what someone is going through in their life. It may be that this person is lashing out at you, but that you are not really what is bothering them. Some people act in this fashion out of insecurity or distrust. A calm answer can diffuse the situation, and give them time to think. A person in a heightened state is rarely able to see how they are behaving, or respond civilly. They definitely are in no state to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are commanded to be ready to tell them about that at all times.
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15