Solomon tells us that “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP). God undoubtedly has a sense of humor; we need only look at some of the animals He created (it’s hard not to smile at the sight of a hippo, a monkey, or a puppy). Or think of some of the married couples you know: don’t you think God was smiling at the wedding as He looked ahead to the interaction of the wildly different personalities that will be living together?
Aimee Milburn of Historical Christian writes powerfully about the consequences of silence from those of us who believe:
We usually think of martyrdom as occurring because the martyr refused to renounce faith in Christ, and this has often been the case in history. But St. Bede the Venerable, in this morning’s office of readings, gives a different view, in his commentary on St. John the Baptist: “His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth.”
Only that he should keep silent about the truth. Is that not what we are being asked to do today, in the public square? Keep silent?
Silence about the truth is death, spiritual death, the death of the soul, a creeping, invisible death in which those who are living in darkness, in the death of sin, are kept in darkness and sin, and so dead to the truth, dead to Life. And death takes root, and spreads, when truth is silenced.
As I noted recently, it’s time to speak, time to take action. I’ve been thinking alot lately about how far I can go in my classes to speak the truth: I pray for my students, but can I also be more direct? It’s a sticky issue teaching at a public university, but I suspect that I can be more bold, more forthright than I have been in the past. I pray for the Holy Spirit to show me the opportunities and to strengthen my courage to be like John the Baptist.
- filed in action, quick take
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Reflections on a Christ-centered, grace-filled life. Writer and teacher Dan Butcher's blog takes an eclectic approach to faith.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.