(by
Kerry Patton)
Set a guard, O Lord, over my
mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any
evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!
Psalm 141:3-4
Thumper, that
single-toothed cotton tail rabbit in the 1942 animated Disney film “Bambi”
finds himself being corrected by his mother after he makes a comical
observation at Bambi’s expense: “Thumper,
what did your father say only this morning?” To which Thumper makes his
embarrassed reply: “If you can’t say
something nice…d..don’t say nothing at all.” He of course should have said: “…don’t say
anything at all.” The result is that we
can savor the humorous double negative he expresses in which he effectively
states: “If you can’t say something nice…say it anyhow!” Silence…Not saying anything at all.
Silence is a
powerful tool for both good and evil.
Silence is good when the tongue is held rather than taking the easy shot
and injuring with a hurtful word.
Silence is good when we are in the presence of a suffering, or grieving
brother or sister, and the truth is – there are no words to say. It is often in our silent presence, praying,
holding the hand, grieving with, and interceding while another is hurting that
we may administer the most help in a time of need. It is wisdom to know if, and when silence is
needed
Silence is a
weapon of harm though when we withhold the encouraging word; when the word of
correction or counsel is needed, but for reasons of pride, guilt, or
frustration we do not speak. Silence is
not good when a word of forgiveness is due and we withhold it out of spite, or
as a punishment of payback. The
discerning follower of Christ comes to know his or her own tendency toward
silence, or away from it, and seek the wisdom of the Lord in dealing with it in
life.
Spiritual
silence can be, if unmonitored, very dangerous.
This week, we’ve explored the loudness of our spiritual life
conversation. We’ve talked about the
importance of whispering, shouting, and conversing normally – as it were, in
context of how we live our Christian witness, share our faith, and communicate
the spiritual elements of the Christian faith; necessary for salvation from
sin. I’ve encouraged you to “speak”
loudly at times, softly at others, and faithfully in normal tones as we go
about the hours and days of our lives.
So where does silence fit in to our Christian witness?
Particularly in
the realm of communicating our faith, evangelizing the lost, and rescuing the
perishing, we are encouraged to speak…but to do so at the unction of the Holy
Spirit. From my Methodist roots I
remember reading of Mr. John Wesley’s words on the seasons of the heart. He suggested, and rightly so I believe, that
there are seasons of the heart – times when we are receptive, and likewise
times when we are not receptive to words of the Gospel…particularly when the
lost are being counseled. He encouraged
the Christian evangelist/disciple to be watchful for those seasons in the lives
of those to whom he or she desired to lead to Jesus. To ignore those seasons would make no
sense…just as it would make no sense to plant a crop during the harsh biting of
winter, but to wait until spring.
The ministry of
silence is a wisdom; a self-control that is exerted upon the self that
restrains our effort and speaking until we are released by the Spirit to do
so. We then, seeing the need arising,
wait until the Lord’s timing is proven and then sow the seeds of his word into
the soil of the heart that he has prepared.
What is the
danger of silence in this context?
Actually, and tragically, the condition of silence is what has become
the normative existence of the average Christian. Many live their entire lives never having led
a single individual into relationship with Jesus. Silence is perpetuated by a fear of failure
or rejection; it is often rooted not in attentiveness to the timing of the Holy
Spirit, but in a lack of preparation.
Effectively, even when we know something should be said, we have nothing
to say, so we speak not. We remain
silent. Silence then can become a major
weapon Satan uses against the Kingdom of God when he hinders the believer from
either properly exercising it, or convinces the believer that silence is to be
his or her normal state of being.
Prayer
Almighty God, I
pray that you teach me the discipline of silence. Help me to learn how and when to speak, and
how and when to not speak. Create in my
heart that ministering spirit that is content not to strike back when harmed,
but is compelled to speak when the time is right. Set me on fire that I might burn brightly for
you when it is time to burn…to break silence and be your messenger or mouthpiece.
And give me peace; grant me contentment to wait upon your signal when it is
time to act. Teach me about silence in
life and living I pray. Amen.
