Silence is Not Always Golden

 "Zeal for your house consumes me and the insults of those who insult you fall on me." Psalm 69:9

    In a recent devotional, the question was posed: "Do we need to speak softly and carry a big stick because truthful voices are being silenced?" Take the case of Christian and former drug addict, Mike Lindell. He has built a successful pillow business but, because his political beliefs differ from some, he is being attacked. I watched a clip of his speech at a political rally in which he encouraged people to read their Bibles and spend time with their families. Yet, retailers which had sold his merchandise, have been threatened to be boycotted if they don't remove his products from their shelves. How should this believer respond? 

    How do we know when to speak up and when to remain silent? Let's look at the best example we have: our Lord Jesus. In the gospel writings, sometimes He answered questions and sometimes He chose to remain silent. He was always composed, filled with conviction and wisdom, as integrity ruled His tongue. He never misspoke. 

    Remember the story when Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple? (John 2: 13-17) Does it seem out of character to learn He fashioned a whip, kicked over tables, sending pigeon feathers flying and coins clattering, as He sternly exclaimed, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"? The driving force behind this righteous outburst was the deceitful fleecing practiced by the merchants. Corrupt priests were using their power to establish the unjust system of charging exorbitant fees for money exchange and overcharging for the sacrificial animals. 

    When an adulterous woman was caught in her sinful act, her accusers brought her before Jesus, demanding social justice. He let them simmer in their self-righteous stew for a bit while He bent down and wrote in the dust. Straightening up, pearls of wisdom poured forth as He stated: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."(John 8:1-11) Christ's dignified silence has echoed throughout history.

    Sometimes a message can be preached in stillness but we should never be quiet when bullies wield their power unjustly. In fact, it's our duty to stand up for the oppressed. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:7, there's "a time to be silent and a time to speak."

    In the 1940s, there was a church in Germany near the railroad tracks. When the boxcars carrying crying Jews chugged past, the organist increased the volume to drown out the fateful noise. If you had been a congregant in that church, what would have been your response? Speak softly? Turn a blind eye and a deaf ear? What if your loved one was on that train? Someday, the persecution may visit your home.

"If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, 'We knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?" Proverbs 24: 10-12