Know When To Speak
- Posted by Julee Huy
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“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.” (Proverbs 16:23)
In light of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, these were my opening words this past Sunday:
Why? Why did this happen?
I encourage you, think hard and speak slowly because the answers are not simple to such heart wrenching questions in times like this. It is both unhelpful and unfruitful and can feel unloving to provide trite answers that trample on the grief of mourning parents and to use the casket of dead children as a stepping stone to promote a cause, even a good cause. Short-handed jabs like “what did you expect when you kicked God out of schools” does very little to promote the cause of redemption but does much to show the cynical and bitter side of God’s people for marginalizing what we hold so dear. The church needs in times like this what we are often not great at: tact and compassion. When there is “weeping” and “loud lamentation” that comes from grief, then we ought to reflect more than ever the heart of Jesus
“a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory” (Matt 12:20)
Here are two articles that express my heart better than I preached it.
“The issue is not relevance, but demeanor and spirit, in this case measured by timing.” ~ Doug WilsonHOW A CALVINIST SHOULD NOT RESPOND TO NEWTON
“So much of the Christian life is a mystery. Mystery’s bed-fellow is silence. There will definitely be a ripening when theological answers are necessary, but the countenance of your face will be theological enough for most people. The tears on your own cheeks along with your silence is often the best we have to give in times like this.” ~ C Michael Patton
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