Should Christians Keep Their Mouths Shut?

Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (KJV). This is a general truth which we should heed. It could be that this proverb is much deeper than we may realize if we give ourselves a moment to ponder it. If we keep our mouths shut, we will avoid a heap of trouble in this life to be certain, and if we keep out mouths from speaking falsely, keep it from gossip, keep it from slander, keep it from vows we do not intend to keep, and if we keep it from blasphemy; we will keep our souls from trouble with God.

But the question arises from this is: whom are we concerned the trouble comes from? Do we fear God? If yes, then we will keep our mouths from the list of things just mentioned, but if we fear man, we will keep our mouths from speaking the truths of God. Therefore, the attempt to avoid trouble is with man. In other words, if we want to stay away from adversity or trouble with friends, family, work, and unbelievers in general then we will keep our mouths from speaking the things of God to them. Yet, the problem now is we are in trouble with God because he would have his truth proclaimed (Romans 10:17).

What Should We Do?

The short answer is to speak. But the tongue is a vile little thing that can bring death just as swift as it can bring life (James 3). We must have wisdom in our approach but we must at least have an approach. There must be a foundation from which we speak in order to rightly aim at who we are speaking to. Upon what authority do we tell the people we come in contact with about Jesus? Upon the authority of Jesus himself. He is the sender and his aim is at the nations of the world. Consider this from Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV):

¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus said go and speak because he has all authority in heaven and in earth. He is ruling and sending his heralds to the nations to let them know he is ruling. He wants the nations know they have a king they answer to and must bow the knee. If we are in Christ then we are the heralds. We speak, we open our mouths to tell the things of God to the world God created. If we do not speak, we will avoid issues with those around us, but we are disobeying Jesus. Christian, open your mouth and speak! SDG!

March 11, 2022 0

Not Ashamed

I preached from Romans 1:16-17 last Sunday at a church in upstate South Carolina. The church members were a faithful bunch with hoary head and strong conviction. The building is just as you would imagine; a southern brick church building with a welcoming vestibule that opens to a large sanctuary with Sunday school rooms tucked behind the wall of the choir loft. Stain glass windows line the sanctuary lighting the wooden pews aligned in three sections in front of the center looming pulpit.

I certainly appreciated the large pulpit. One that could not only hold a Bible and notes but could withstand the blasts of preaching. Many music stands have lost their intended use by being made more lofty than they are. Barely holding up sheet music is one thing —holding a leather bond sword is another. That could be an old mountain man preacher’s preference, so be it.

The thing I appreciated most about the church was the few moments after I arrived. There was no one to meet me or guide me to where I was to go. My family and I wondered into the back where the Sunday school rooms were. Every room was filled. One door was open which allowed a friend of mine to meet us as she saw us walking by. She went to get her husband who in turn got the chairman of deacons. The chairman was a younger man, much younger than the average aged person there. He had a weight about him, a look of time spent in ministry. I later found out it was youth ministry; God bless him. But this younger man brought me back to a room full of men. Men who all welcomed me with smiles and handshakes — something quite uncommon by today’s standard of greeting.

These men intended to pray with me before I preached. I appreciated the opportunity knowing this would allow me to peak into the spiritual strength of this particular church. I was not ready for what happened next. Each man took a turn praying for me. Starting on my right and circling the room until the prayer chain ended with the chairman who escorted me into the room. Over ten men said my name outloud to God.

As the first man spoke my name, tears began to swell up in my eyes. I have often said a man could do nothing greater for me than to lift my name to the Father in Heaven. To hear these men meek but bold in prayer brought many things to my mind. One thing was highlighted though; I was a small man unworthy to stand among such giant men of faith. I did not need to know who was who or who has done what in that church. I knew these men as I heard them pray. They were men who tarried with Christ in prayer. They knew their Lord and wanted his help that morning.

As they finished I thanked them and moved from the room quickly. Tears now streamed down my face, even this mountain preacher’s face, down to the beard (Psalm 133:2). I looked none of them in the eye, I just left the room.

I preached with the power from on high and left that church knowing there are others who have not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). This church is not ashamed of the Gospel. (Romans 1:16). O God lift up other churches like these. SDG!

October 3, 2021 0

Slow and Steady

The words, “Slow and Steady” give us that mind picture of the tortoise and the hare. The two are always pitted against one another in the race of a lifetime. The hare goes as fast as possible, believing that the lead is sufficient enough for a rest. The tortoise goes at the pace of ‘slow and steady’ and eventually surpasses the would be winner. The surprise of the hare is unquestionably obvious. How could something so slow, so steady, so true, so sure, and so ugly, win? The hare was the sure bet for the victory no doubt. Yet, it is funny how things work out when we consider pride and our own strengths. The hare was no exception to the fate of “pride goeth before the fall”; further, he was no exception to the embarrassment of self deception (Ref. Proverbs 16:18 and Matthew 7:21-23).

Let us not have such a haughty spirit as we ascend to the task of preaching the Gospel. We are surely not up to the task considering our own strengths and tactic. While it may seem that the responses of others affirm our prose, along with exegetical interpretation; we need to be cautious in how we handle and deliver the very Word of God. The souls of men, women, boys and girls are at stake here.

I have heard Brother Paul Washer exclaim, “Preach the Gospel long enough, true enough, and somebody is coming out of there saved!”

I hear in that to be slow and steady. And so true that is. We are men and women of the word. We are messengers who are tasked with the wonderful burden of delivering what saith the Lord to the hearts and minds of all people. We should be in this endeavor for he long haul.

Sure great big revivals that spring up out of nowhere are grand, but we must ascertain whether it was by the strength of our efforts or from the power of God working through His people? The tactic may be quite beautiful, but the outcome will make itself clear in the end. We are not called to manipulate people into coming to Christ, but rather we are to have them see the holiness of God, to realize the ramifications of their sin, consider the cost, and come to Christ for salvation. We are to do this time and time again. Slow and steady. How shameful will it be on that great day to lift up your head to realize your napping cost you the prize? Let it not be so dear friend. Rely only on the Gospel to do the work of converting men and women for it is the power of God unto salvation (ref. Romans 1:16).

Take heart even if you do not see results of your faithful preaching of the Word. The results are not up to the preacher, but the grace of our great God. He gives both the increase and the peace we do need as His servants. Brothers, let us preach the Gospel true, slow, and steady. Soli Deo Gloria.

References:

Featured image: Google search.

July 23, 2018 0