To everything there is a season,
A time for every matter under heaven...
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak...

  - Ecclesiastes 3.1, 7

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

  - Proverbs 17.15

He who does not denounce, agrees
He who does not forbid, commands.
He who is silent, conceals.
He who shares the deed will share the punishment.

  - Aipgitir Chrábaid, Colmán mac Beógnai, Irish, 7th century[1]

Holding one’s tongue can be the right strategy at times. There is a time for silence.

But there are times when to keep silent is to become complicit in evil.

When we are confronted with blatant sin and refuse to speak up, we agree with sin and give encouragement to sinners.

When we refuse to question practices in our church that, while they may be ever so familiar and long-standing, have no Biblical basis whatsoever, we commend those practices and conceal God’s truth.

Given an opportunity to share a word of witness concerning our Lord, if we choose the path of silence, we withhold that which God has commissioned us to proclaim, and which men require if they would know eternal life.

Do you fear that if you speak a timely word, you might rend a relationship, create an offense, ruffle a feather, or incur the anger or scorn of the one with whom you speak? And what if you do? There is a time for even such things as these, as our Lord Jesus consistently showed.

The time to speak is upon us when the cause of Christ’s Kingdom and righteousness is on the line. We advance the Kingdom by words and deeds; we deny it, and impede its progress by want of timely words and loving works.

Certainly, when we speak, we must speak truth in love (Eph. 4.15), having our speech always seasoned with grace (Col. 4.6).

But though we may consider silence or refusing to confront to be the “loving thing” to do, if we withhold truth, we are loving no one but ourselves.

The Holy Spirit has been given to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He shows us what is wrong, directs us toward what is right, and warns of discipline from our loving Father if we fail to amend our practice (Jn. 16.8-11). The key in learning when to speak, and how, is to follow the example of the Spirit, listen for His prompting, and, when prompted, obey.

Devote your speech to the Lord each day, and plead with Him to enable you to make the most of every opportunity for confronting sin, proclaiming grace and truth, or speaking a word of edification. Don’t worry about planning what you’ll want to say in every situation before you. The Spirit can provide what He wants you to say at just the moment you need the words. (Lk. 12.11, 12).

Be filled with Him, and with His Word, and learn to listen, listen for the still, small voice of the Spirit. He Who guides us into all truth can guide us into all appropriate speech – or silence – as well.

Psalm 139.23, 24 (Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
Search my heart, O Lord, and know me, as You only, Lord, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations, whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, Lord, nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, Lord, unto everlasting peace!

Lord, let there be no unrighteousness in me, so that I might speak Your truth with love, as I ought to speak. Adapted from Colmán mac Beógnai, Aipgitir Chrábaid.[2]

Mission Partners Outreach
You can learn to use your words to encourage others and build them up, and even to open the door for conversations about your love for Jesus. Our Mission Partners Outreach is designed to help you and a friend do just that. This six-month course will help you begin using your words in your Personal Mission Field so that rivers of living water flow to refresh and renew the people to whom God sends you each day. The Mission Partners Outreach is designed for you and a friend, meeting twice a month, and working through a series of videos and studies. The course and all its materials are free, and you can learn more about it, and register for it, by clicking here.

The Lord provides for the needs of The Fellowship of Ailbe by moving on the hearts of those who benefit from our work and believe in our mission. If that includes you, please seek the Lord in prayer concerning this opportunity. It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.