Musings: The Conspiracy of Silence is loud and clear

"If you don't have something good to say, then don't say anything" — is a wise statement that no one on the planet seems to be following anymore.

I don't need to point out how vitriolic our society has become. When you read that someone was shot dead because they drove too slow, or they were going to brunch, or they were simply going to school one day and someone else ended their young, innocent lives, it’s too much. Seriously too much.

And while we sit at home and stare at our TV’s in horror, we feel helpless. And before an hour passes, the debate begins. And there’s more anger. And no matter which side of the debate you’re on, you’re angry at the people who hold opposite views than you.

And that’s just about guns. We are also angry about abortion, and the war in Ukraine, and baby formula and a list of things too long to count.

We just don’t get along.

First of all, I’d like to tell you that this isn’t God’s will. Not for His people. Not for the earth. Nobody wants to hear that, and it’s a shame that they don’t. But the real crime is, if we’re not angrily on one side or the other in all these debates, we become silent. All the time. Nobody’s going to listen to us. We mind our own business. And that’s the biggest offense of all.

The conspiracy of silence.

Because those of us who follow Jesus know that the problem with the world is a matter of heart. And the only one who can change a heart is Jesus. And He calls us to speak.  Not angry words, but words of life. No matter what’s going on in the world, He’s calling you and me to speak. Words of comfort. Words of peace. Words of hope.

We are not called to tell the world how evil they are. We are called to tell the world how loved they are. We are called to remind them that while they (and we) were disgusting sinners separated from a holy, loving Father, Christ died for us.

This is good news. We have something good to say, but we aren't saying it.

SPEAK WORDS OF COMFORT. When someone is grieving, open your mouth and speak comforting words. What should you say? Ask the Lord, He’ll lead you.

SPEAK WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. You want to tell them what a good job they did, or how much their love encourages you. But you don’t. So today, do it. Say it. It doesn’t matter how they respond. You’ll never know how much your words helped.

SPEAK WORDS OF PEACE. Tell them they can have peace in this crazy world. Jesus is that peace. Speak His Name.

SPEAK WORDS OF HOPE. You don’t know how things will turn out but God does.  He can heal a situation, He can change a situation. He can. He is still in control of all things. We need to remember and remind one another.

SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE. Jesus brings life. It’s why He came to this planet. The people around you need Him. Tell this His story.

“Work at living at peace with everyone.”

- Hebrews 12:14

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Musings: The Conspiracy of Silence is loud and clear