No Response
By: Joe Mack Cherry
I. Human Nature
A. Why is it so hard to keep our mouths shut?
1. Jas. 1:26 – “If any man think of himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
2. Jas. 3:8 – “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.”
3. The tongue has no bones but it is strong enough to break a heart. Anonymous
4. Our mouth is connected to our heart and sometimes our heart doesn’t think about what it tells the mouth to say, especially if we been hurt or feel like we’re not being heard.
B. Inevitably, someone will say hateful things to us or about us.
1. Feelings get hurt, this is normal because as humans, we want everyone to like us but that ain’t reality, is it?
2. As a society, we have come to believe it is our right to say whatever we want to anyone (whine, whine, cry) without considering their feelings or dignity when we are unhappy. Why? Because it is all about me!
3. Contrary to popular belief, there is a responsibility that comes with invoking our 1st Amendment Right: Freedom of Speech. This applies to Christians as well as the world.
II. Body
A. The question is not if this happens to us, it is when this happens, how do we respond to it?
1. Many Christians today believe that the “an eye for an eye” justice system was abolished when the new law came into effect because Jesus teaches us to love our enemies as ourselves. Luke 6:27-36
2. We manage to keep our guns in their holsters and our fists unclenched; but most times we can’t keep our tongues in our mouths.
3. In my 40 years of service to the Lord, this has happened twice to me.
a. The first time this happened, we were between preachers. I was teaching classes (Sun. & Wed.), preaching two times on Sun, plus doing a radio program each week. I was brought before the congregation for doing too much.
b. When someone doesn’t like you, then anything can be used for a reason to cause pain and/or strife.
c. Heb. 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another-and all the more as we see the day approaching.”
d. I was blessed to come out of that situation intact spiritually. I won’t say my thoughts were perfect all the time, but God helped me keep my trap shut and people’s true colors were revealed without having to be pointed out.
B. Only God Can Help us Survive These Attacks by Others
1. Rom. 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2. Rom. 8:37 – “…in all things we are more than conquerors with Jesus Christ.”
3. As Christians we are called to love the unlovely.
• Sometimes love requires that we keep our mouths shut for the greater good.
• We have to see past the pain of the moment.
4. Many aren’t strong enough to resist the temptation to verbally retaliate. It takes God!
5. Rom. 12:9 – “… vengeance is Mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay.” (in His time). God will repay for verbal abuse just like He will physical.
C. Is there scripture that backs up being quiet? Do we have to acknowledge every false accusation?
1. Absolutely and No! We need only to look at the Gospels and our Savior.
a. Mt. 27:11-14
b. Mk. 15:1-4
c. Luke 23:9-10
d. John 19:9-11
e. All these record Jesus’ lack of response to lies.
2. In Luke 23:2, The chief priest and elders were accusing Him of:
a. Misleading a nation by saying He was King of the Jews and being a stirrer of sedition, discord, and rebellion, and inciting riots. Gill
b. Suggesting that taxes were not to be paid to Caesar.
c. Last but not least, a blasphemer. He claimed to be the Son of God!
3. Why did Jesus refuse to answer?
a. Jesus was confident within Himself that all the accusations were false; therefore, He didn’t have to argue His point.
• My granny always told me, “It takes two people to have an argument.” The quieter Jesus became, the more they railed against Him.
• This happens when people try to prove a point and there is no one that responds.
• We can stand firmly as he did when we are falsely or rudely attacked.
b. Jesus could have truthfully “slung mud” on every one of His accusers, but He didn’t. What good would it have done? What good does it do today?
c. Jesus knew the ultimate plan and was committed wholly to accept death in our place. He did so silently and stoically without sin.
D. What else does scripture say about holding our tongue?
1. Prov. 26:4 – “Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.” NLT
2. Abraham Lincoln said, “It’s better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
a. He stole it from Prov. 17:28 – “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
b. Mark Twain said, “Never argue with a fool, people may not be able to tell the difference between the two of you.”
3. Eccl. 3:7 – “… there is a time to talk and a time to remain silent.” An old adage tells us that we have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.
III. Closing
A. Peace through Silence
1. It’s hard to stand by and listen to others criticize us or ones we love without retaliation.
a. Reality is, there will always be those who sow discord.
b. Taylor Swift says in her song “Shake It Off”, haters are going to hate.
c. Undue criticism from others is a weapon Satan uses often.
2. Mat. 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”
a. If we want peace and quiet, sometimes we have to let things go and be quiet.
b. We need to find confidence within ourselves as Christ did, not an arrogance but a resolve that others will not deter us from our walk with God or using the talents with which He has blessed us.
c. Silence does not indicate that there is a passiveness or weakness in a person.
d. Many times, it takes a stronger person to stay quiet rather than argue.
B. If we must respond:
1. Respond by praying to God before addressing the one who is causing the problem by spreading rumors or falsely accusing us.
2. Let Him help you fight the urge to say something you shouldn’t.
3. As Jesus was dying on the cross, He prayed for the very ones that sent Him there.
C. The last word/the last say.
1. Wise people do not have to have the last say.
2. Wise people trust that God will take care of them regardless of what others say.
3. Wise people know that the only One who really has the last say is God.
