Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:4-5
When I read, I look for the author’s intention. Authorial intention has its opponents, but I think it must inform our initial responses. It’s part of being a good neighbor.
However, I read lots of literature by non-Christians. How do I respond to their intentions? Must I mute my Christianity because I’m seeking their purposes for the work?
I believe Proverbs 26 answers these questions.
First, it is right to offer a Christian reading of a piece of literature with which a non-Christian author would disagree. This response could embrace a truth-filled insight in the work that the author has included unawares.
Second, it is right to show how the author’s intentions are self-defeating, given what happens in the book. That is, it is quite possible to honor the author’s intentions and maintain my Christian witness. I honor the author and take his or her project seriously. I show the consequences of the author’s beliefs.
Both are means of redemptively responding to unbelievers.
Experiments in Criticism 