THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE
Gary W. Summers
Elijah proposed a
gathering of all
“But the people
answered him not a word” (1 Kings
For years,
brethren have rightly termed their actions cowardly,
because they refused to stand for whatever convictions they held. In 1993, it was this writer’s privilege to
write on chapters 14-18 of I Kings for the Annual Denton Lectures. Following are the two paragraphs that comment
on the silence of the Israelites:
The people had been vacillating for
some time; they could not decide who to follow. They limped back and forth
between the two like a staggering drunk with no sense of direction. Elijah
said, “Make up your minds!” They were as silent as those Jews Jesus faced
centuries later when He asked them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?” They too held their peace (Mark
3:4). The next verse says that Jesus looked at them with anger, being grieved
with their hardness of heart.
How tragic that God’s people will
not wholeheartedly embrace the truth! How can anyone logically neglect to
defend error but at the same time refuse to give it up? Yet the same pattern is
repeated in the Lord’s church to this very hour. How often do friends of false
teachers balk at defending their heresies and blasphemies yet refuse to break
fellowship with them? How many times have God’s people heard moral purity proclaimed
by godly preachers and never protested the message but then gone ahead and
dressed immodestly and engaged in worldly and sinful activities? They act as
cowardly as those at
This scribe
believes the same thing thirteen years later that he penned back then. But many others have changed—men who once
would have said Amen to the sentiments recorded above. They have instead joined the ranks of the
silent. Some of these same preachers
once decried the response of Jim Woodroof when he was
invited to debate certain errors that he promulgates. He said he did not wish to puke with
buzzards. Using his metaphor, and
judging from the non-responsiveness of many brethren on certain issues,
buzzards need to be placed on the endangered species list.
A Few Examples
Although some
will undoubtedly consider it “buzzardly,” a few
examples of the current “silence” are in order.
At least two brethren have written letters of concern to one brother at
the center of a controversy; he has neither acknowledged nor answered either
one. These inquirers were not strangers
to this man; he knows both men well.
Another preacher
sent out to several members of the body of Christ two letters complaining about the actions of a particular brother. This recipient of the “poison pen letters”
wrote back to explain his misunderstanding of the facts. When no response was forthcoming, he called
and left a message on his answering machine in his office. The call was not returned, either. Anyone who can write two popular books ought
to be able to communicate by telephone or letter. How is one to interpret these sounds of
silence?
In order to know
how to deal with certain problems, some brethren overseas have tried to resolve
a situation by communicating with various preachers here who were involved in
the situation. Only two out of seven
have responded fully. One individual has
ignored several letters and admittedly deleted telephone messages. This behavior has definitely made an impression
on the young Christians in the mission field.
Recently, some
brethren have sent messages to the faculty members of a school of preaching—only
to receive no reply whatsoever to questions of importance. The parents of one prospective student asked
certain questions of this same school; they too received no reply. Forty years ago, Paul Simon included these
words as part of the lyrics of “The Sounds of Silence”: “Silence like a cancer
grows.” At the current rate of growth,
we should soon be hearing silence in four-part harmony.
The Example of Jesus and the
Apostles
Many are not
surprised that Max Lucado remains mute in the face of
all of his critics. But we are surprised
to find such responses from once-credible brethren. Many have avoided complete silence, but they
are obviously the strong, silent type—men of few words. Yup!
One school of preaching recently said concerning an issue, “We’ve
already made our decision; we have no plans to discuss it further.” Another individual with a certain
organization said, “There’s no purpose in having a meeting. It’s like beating a
dead horse.”
All should
consider the following question: “When
did Jesus or the apostles act in such a manner?” When did Paul ever say, “We’ve already legislated
on this Judaizing teacher problem. There’s no need to discuss it any more.” No, Paul debated it with those who challenged
him; he did not “hide under his desk,” as Bill O’Reilly frequently refers to
it. Paul took the opportunity to
“reason” with the Jews and the Gentiles.
By what authority do people refuse to speak today?
Certain brethren
are behaving the way someone who is guilty of sin acts. Jesus said that, when one is sinned against, he
should take one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word might be established. Many of us
have tried that procedure with wayward church members, but the person in question
will neither meet nor discuss the situation.
Usually, in light of such a hostile attitude, the church has withdrawn
fellowship anyway. Now, what about a
school or organization that does the same thing? Should members of the body of Christ just ignore
the problems, or should they quit supporting them?
Communication
The church is
likened to a body. Is it possible for
there to be a lack of cooperation between the members of the body? If a brick were to fall off a table onto a
person’s foot, a signal of pain would immediately be sent to the brain. The other foot immediately takes over; all of
the standing (and perhaps hopping) will be done upon it. Soon the person is seated, and the arms are
holding up the foot to examine it with the eyes. Now what if the eyes said, “I’ve dealt with
sore toes before; my position is well known.
I have nothing more to say”? What
if the arms said, “No, I’m not going to hold any ice on the swelling; it’s not
my problem”?
Is this the
church for which Christ died? Should
there be no communication between the members?
What is it that people are afraid of?
Are they afraid to take a stand?
Are they afraid that others will know where they stand? Are there some King Ahab’s who will frown
with disapproval if they speak up?
Or is it the case
that some have determined to act the role of Diotrephes? The apostle John said: “I wrote to the
church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the
preeminence among them does not receive us” (3 John 9). Such was the arrogance and high-handedness of
this “brother.” He was accountable to no
one (or so he thought). Possibly, he
ignored John, refusing to acknowledge his letter. Either he said nothing or sent him a message
along the lines of: “Mind your own business.”
Whichever it was,
the message was clear. John was not at liberty
to ask questions or make comments about his church, just as today many will
not brook being asked questions about their congregation, their
school, or their organization. Such
attitudes are not Christian.
Jesus answered a
question with a question in Matthew 21:23-27.
When His adversaries did not have enough nerve to answer truthfully, then
Jesus refused to answer their question.
Jesus answered questions about divorce (Matt. 19:3-12), paying taxes
(Matt.
When someone
refuses to answers pertinent inquiries from a brother or sister in Christ,
there is a reason. The reason is either
that of cowardice (he has something to hide) or arrogance. Someone might say that Jesus did not answer
the question asked Him at His trial. The
reason is that hard hearts had already determined to crucify Him. He did answer it truthfully, when He was
adjured. At any rate, He had already
taught and proved His Deity. By whose
authority are brethren refusing to speak today?
What Biblical principle are they following? Perhaps they could enlighten all of us who
are puzzled by their sounds of silence.
Some things ought
to make us nervous, such as not doing what the Scriptures teach. Does it really matter what the disobedience
is? It could be the refusal to repent of
sins; it could be the neglecting of good works; it might be balking at baptism;
perhaps it involves the reluctance to assemble with the saints on the first day
of the week. Or it might be the refusal
to reconcile a problem with one’s brother.
Jesus wanted to
make certain that problems would not persist in the church; therefore, He
provided various principles to resolve the conflicts which will always be
occurring. The following Scriptures with
appropriate applications are commended to all brethren everywhere who have
suffered problems (in other words, most of us).
1. If you
have been offended, go to the person responsible. Jesus, in Matthew 18:15-17, did not say to
tell everyone else the problem; talk to the person involved. It just may be a miscommunication that can be
settled easily. If not, however, every
word can be established with witnesses.
This approach does not leave matters lying around, not having been dealt
with for years.
2. If you know that a brother has “something
against you,” go and resolve the situation immediately. You initiate contact. The Lord stressed that one leave his gift at
the altar and get the matter straightened out—that is how urgent and important
it is (Matt. 5:3-24). Silence between
brethren is not an acceptable option.
3. Do not
be a stumbling block to your brother.
The apostle Paul preferred to never eat meat again if it made his
brother stumble. Tolerance and humility
go much further than arrogance and close-mind-edness. Notice the fervency of Paul’s plea: “And
because of your knowledge shall the weaker brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the
brethren, and wound their weak con-science, you sin against Christ” (1 Cor.
4. “Love
one another.” Who does not know that
Jesus taught His disciples to love one another, as He loved them (John
John warns that the one who “hates his
brother is in darkness until now” and “walks in darkness” (1 John 2:9-11). One who does not love his brother “does not
know God, for God is love” (1 John 4: 8); furthermore, for this individual to
insist that he loves God makes him a liar (1 John
One of the things people do who love
others is to bear with them and forgive them their trespasses. Is it love to lash out at someone for whom
there is no personal attachment because of certain actions when, if the same
deed had been committed by a family member or close friend, the matter would
have been resolved quickly and quietly?
Making a distinction between how we treat brethren (using a double
standard) is indicative of losing one’s partiality and objectivity. Certainly, such attitudes will stand in the
way of reconciliation.
5. We
must be willing to forgive if we expect to be forgiven. Most of the time, when a
brother who has offended us humbly repents, everyone rejoices, and forgiveness
is granted. Jesus, however, knew
that it would be withheld, however, by some.
Therefore, He made our forgiveness from God contingent on our
forgiveness of others (Matt.
6. Problems
cannot be rationalized away. Paul
did not say of Peter’s wrong behavior in Galatians 2: “Oh, he’s just having a
bad day.” He had to be confronted
concerning it. Sinful behavior cannot be
overlooked amongst friends or even fellow apostles. On another occasion Peter had to rebuke Simon
the Sorcerer for his desire to have power not granted unto him. Whatever he may have done afterward, at least
he deserves credit for his response in Acts 8:24. Simon did not seek to justify or defend his actions. He did not blame someone else. On those occasions when we have said or done
the wrong thing, we should admit it.
7.
Problems can only be settled on the basis of truth. No one can be forgiven on the basis that
he is another brother’s friend or relative, has other fine attributes,
possesses tremendous influence, or has a great deal of money. Problems resolved in those ways compromise
the truth, which all gospel preachers are committed to defending. Only by continuing in the Word can we know
and practice the truth (John
We ought to be impressed with these and
other principles of conflict resolution that our Lord placed within the
Scriptures. How can we speak of unity
and peace when unresolved situations continually confront us? All of us ought to be concerned about being
peacemakers.
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