Knowing When to Speak

     Growing up, our family entered into many discussions and debates.  In fact on the almost daily trips to my grandfather's house with my dad, I would sit and listen to them argue politics and the current events of the day.  Being an attorney, my grandfather was quite adept at scoring points in the many discussions they had.  This is perhaps why I chose communication as my major in college.
     Unfortunately, today, people are not able to discuss issues in a civil manner or frequently take offense to anyone who disagrees with them.  I think too much social media, 24/7 T.V. news and lack of skill in one on one conversation may be contributing factors.  It is easy to throw punches at someone behind a keyboard.  So with this in mind, I turned to the Bible to look at the life of Christ.
     Our Savior came for a specific reason...the salvation of those whom God the Father had chosen from before the foundation of the world.  His life would be laid down that our sins might be forgiven.  He also came as the Bible says in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4).  God's plan was perfect in sending Jesus when He did.  The Romans controlled the area where the Jews lived so there was a good deal of political unrest.  In addition, the Pharisees exercised a good deal of influence over how the Jews practiced their faith.  Their effort to keep people from breaking the Commandments resulted in an additional six hundred fence laws so a person would not violate a commandment.  Their yoke upon the people was very burdensome.  Thus, Jesus took an approach to challenge the status quo, and he warned people to beware the "leaven of the Pharisees" which He called hypocrisy (read Luke 12:1-3).  He confronted them and called them "white washed sepulchers full of dead men's bones" rather than the spiritual leaders they claimed to be.  Needless to say, He was not winning friends among these elites of the day.
     Jesus also drove out the money changers from the Temple area because they were cheating the people in the House of the Lord.  His anger was based on a righteous response rather than out of pure hatred and enmity.  We know our Savior experienced the ups and downs like we do, but He never allowed animosity to win the day.  When He was arrested and Peter cut off the ear of a guard, Jesus healed him and rebuked Peter.  He went silently before His false accusers, and did not seek to defend Himself because He was fulfilling what God had sent Him to accomplish.  So what does this tell us about how our Lord handled things?
     Jesus had a balance in all that He said and did.  He confronted wrong, rebuked sin, had compassions on the hurting, healed the sick as a result of His holy character.  He showed anger but He did not sin.  His purpose was to correct and point to God the Father.  Yet, He was meek, humble and tender.  When I read Scripture, I see a perfect man, Savior and Lord.  One who was not afraid to challenge and speak up in defense of truth...for He was the truth.
     We live in turbulent times right now with much upheaval as elections loom before us.  I have never, in all my years on earth, seen as much vitriol, hatred, foul language and violence towards others as I have witnessed at present.  Some in the Christian community feel that we should be silent and not speak up against things that we see happening around us that are not just or fair.  Others (myself included) believe that we need to address issues in a civil manner and stand up for what is right.  Of course, when we speak up concerning issues, we will be attacked for our position and we need to expect that.  Jesus said we are to be light and salt in this dark world, and we cannot be if we
do not engage the culture in which we live.  Our purpose is to serve as an ambassador for Christ, and as we know, ambassadors have to be ready to speak to many issues: spiritual and in our political environment as well.
     If we are to be the feet and hands of Jesus, then we also need to be someone unafraid to speak the truth in love.  We are the voice of the unborn who die by abortion.  We are to speak to perversion and sins which we know God hates.  Likewise, if we wish to keep our freedoms intact, we need to speak truth
to our fellow citizens when misinformation abounds.  I remember reading somewhere that during the Revolutionary War a pastor after giving an impassioned sermon ripped off his robe to reveal a revolutionary uniform and called his congregation to follow him to fight for freedom.
     Everyone needs to pray before they speak and pray after they speak that what they said might be right in the eyes of the Lord.  Each day I pray like David did:  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14).  We aren't going to bat 100 all the time because we are sinners saved by grace, but we do not need to be afraid to speak when the Lord urges us to say something or intervene to correct injustice.  May He give us the courage of a Corrie Ten Boom who was obedient even in the face of tyranny.
Selah!