|
|
 |
|
Silent
Speech
|
|
“I’d rather
see a sermon than hear one any day:
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the
way.”
“The eye’s a better pupil, and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.”
“I can soon learn how to do it, if you let me see it done,
I can catch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may
run.”
These lines from the poet Edgar Guest are beautiful. They not
only speak a truth in an eloquent way, but stimulate us to
think about our own influence and whether or not we are
“saying” what we should be saying to others.
Influence has been a vital part of our most fundamental
lessons. Our first effort at writing words involved a written
example of the A-B-C’s. Math problems–from the most
fundamental arithmetic to the most complex calculus–was made
clear to us by the use of examples; it is the same with
biology, chemistry, polemics, football, or computer science.
We can just do it better after we’ve seen it done.
Could I suggest some sermons you could preach without ever
having to enter a pulpit?
Say something to others by how you speak. If you
speak with a clean tongue in this world of filthy language,
you are saying something about how you feel about taking
God’s name in vain, about using dirty terminology, about
speaking derogatorily all the time. What do you think people
“see” when they “hear” you?
Say something to others by what you wear. Sloppy
dress says something without saying a word. Provocative
dress–low neck lines, short-short skirts, tight
clothing–is a speech that should not be in your vocabulary.
Conversely, proper attire, modest apparel, appropriate dress
all make a strong statement without a word.
Say something to others by how you act. Everyone
wants to have fun, it’s part of the good life. But when fun
goes ballistic, when restraint goes out the window, when
loudness and silliness take over, you are saying, and loudly
enough for all to hear, that you don’t give much
consideration to control, much concern for orderliness. It’s
fine to have fun, but you don’t have amplify it to a
ridiculous extreme. Conduct speaks volumes.
Say something to others by your choice of associates.
Stay long enough in an atmosphere and you become like those
with whom you share it. If you choose to associate with people
who have no concern for God, who are constantly deriding those
who do, then it won’t be long until you join their chorus.
On the other hand, if you associate with godly people, people
who have Christ in their hearts and love on their minds, you
will likely adopt their views and endorse their good example.
What say ye?
Say something to others by your attendance at worship
services. If you are the only one on your block who
gets up on Sunday and makes his way to the services of the
saints, you are making a loud, discernable statement to your
neighbors. You are telling them what you consider to be
important, what takes precedence in your life, and by that you
are recommending the same high life to them. But if you only
attend sporadically they hear your voice clearly; it says that
you are satisfied with spiritual mediocrity and will attend
when it’s not too much trouble or when there’s nothing
more exciting to do. What are you saying on Sunday morning?
Now, I’ve not used a host of scriptures to prove these
assertions. Why? Because, I needed only one: “Let your light
so shine before men that others may see our good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Need I say more?
Dee Bowman
|
|
|
|
|
