SR • February 2016
7
Probably the most known verse on silence is from
Ecclesiastes, used many times in a funeral service.
Since this
Sabbath Recorder’s
theme is “Silence,”
this verse is a good place to begin. Ecclesiastes 3:7 —
a time to be
silent
and a time to speak.
How do we know when to speak up and when to
keep silent? Did God reveal principles to guide His
people? Let’s consider Matthew 7:6 —
“Do not give
dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to
pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their
feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
This scripture
taken from what is called the Sermon on the Mount
is a compilation of short teachings Jesus used to
help His listeners to gain wisdom in their everyday
life. This particular verse is a caution to not waste
God’s holiness on those who have no regard for the
holy. This reminds me of a saying that my dad used
many times as I was growing up: “Persuade a man
against his will, and he remains the same still.”
Debating really only shows the skill of the debater,
not the correctness of the debater’s stance. From
these scriptures I would propose a basic principle.
ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT IF YOU SHOULD SPEAK UP,
OR BITE YOUR TONGUE!!!
Now let’s look at times that we should not be silent.
There are three scriptures that all say not to be
silent. Isaiah 62:1 — “
For Zion’s sake
I will not keep
silent
, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her
salvation like a blazing torch.”
Psalm 12:2: — “
that
my heart may sing your praises and
not be silent
.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”
Acts 18:9 —
“
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not
be afraid; keep on speaking,
do not be silent
.’”
These
three give three different situations in which we are
to speak out. First, for the Lord’s cause of
salva on
,
second to
praise
our Lord, and third in times of
persecu on
. The way we are
not
to be silent is also
given by example. Jesus did not rail against Pilate
and disciples in prison sang praise. All who came to
Jesus and His disciples were taught and loved. Jesus
did, however, turn the moneychangers’ tables over,
because of the wrong use of His Father’s house.
Living daily by example is a wonderful way not to be
silent. Jesus gave us great examples in Matthew
6:13-16 —
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the
salt loses its sal ness
, how can it be made salty
again?
It is no longer good for anything, except to
be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14
You are
the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot
be hidden.
15
Neither do people light a lamp and put
it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and
it gives light to everyone in the house.
16
In the same
way, let your light shine before others, that they
may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in
heaven.
”
Today’s Christians have sought to speak out and be
both salt and light in our world by providing places
of caring in our churches.
First
by caring for the spiri-
tual life given in the “born again” experience, i.e.
salvation, Sabbath observance,
armor of God, spiritual gifts and
fruit, spiritual warfare, authority,
our moral stances (marriage
between a man and woman,
idolatry, covetousness, homo-
sexuality, abortion, abuse), etc.
Then
by caring for the physical
needs of those around us by
food and clothing pantries,
financial help for those out of
work, places of refuge for the
homeless, abused, etc. Many
churches have programs for
recovery
developed to help
different bondages, alcohol,
depression, grief, drugs, etc. Churches also seek to
meet the
needs of the aging
by providing food and
fellowship programs. While your church may not be
able to meet all of the many differing needs in your
particular community,
we as individuals
still have a
responsibility to be the salt and light to individuals
that God places in our lives.
When we accept the mandates that Christ gave us,
we can not be silent. Sometimes we as individual
Christians allow fear to stop us from expressing
Christ’s love to the world because we fear not being
politically correct, or feel we lack knowledge, or
worry someone might be offended. Do you think
Christ was worrying about offending the Pharisees
or the Sadducees when He made judgment calls
about their religiosity? Those judgment calls were a
call to wake and see that the Messiah was already
here, right in front of them.
Ultimately, there is one Biblical principle that should
guide our lives. Ephesians 4:15 — “
Instead, speaking
the truth in love, we will grow to become in every
respect the mature body of him who is the head,
that is, Christ.
16
From him the whole body, joined
and held together by every suppor ng ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does
its work.”
— Pastor Robert VanHorn
SDB church of Pataskala, OH
to be
Silent
or
NOT
SR
