Christian Living
December 5, 2011 – Hold Your Peace or Give Them a Piece?
5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from you today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. – 2 Kings 2:5 AMP
Elisha had to face the facts. Elijah, his teacher and mentor, was going to heaven. The sons of the prophets of Bethel knew it. The sons of the prophets of Jericho knew it. Elisha even knew it. But his response to all of them was for them to hold their peace. Elisha knew he would not see Elijah on earth again, but he just didn’t want everyone talking about it.
Christians are the same way today. We don’t want to hear or talk about anything bad. We don’t want to confront the harsh reality of any situation, such as the oncoming death of a sick and aging family member. As long as there is still life in the body, we have hope and remain optimistic about their recovery. Even in those times when there is no hope of recovery, we talk about good times but never mention the bad. My grandfather died the slow death of Alzheimer’s disease for over a decade. Sometimes I saw him in his bed at his rest home and would laugh at a ninety year old man with a childlike innocence. But I will never forget seeing my father brought to tears when we visited him one day and we were not able to even muster an acknowledgment from him that we were in the room. Although I have never forgotten that day, I have also never mentioned it to my father. Why? I have never mentioned it because I held my peace. That moment in my father’s life holds so much sorrow and grief that I hope he would never have to relive that day in his mind.
Elisha didn’t want to hear bad news any more than we do. But there’s a line here that needs to be crossed. Christians sometimes hold their peace with others when they should be giving them a piece of their mind. I’m not talking about being brash with family members when loved ones are ill. I’m talking about standing for God when you need to.
2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong]. And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. – 2 Timothy 4:2 AMP
Whew! That is a mouthful, and I am sure many of you are breathing a sigh of relief. You’re undoubtedly thankful that you’re not a preacher. This verse is only for preachers. But this verse is for you.
1 Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). – 1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP
Imitate Paul? Whoa! That’s a tall order for even the most mature Christians you know. If Paul was ready to stand for God at any moment, we should be ready as well. No we don’t have to preach a sermon when our faith is challenged by others. A simple, “that’s not what the Bible says” could even suffice. We shouldn’t stand out of arrogance (2 Timothy 3:25). We should stand because we have made a choice not to compromise God’s Word at any time in our life. If we are confronted by anything in our life that disagrees with God’s Word, we should be ready to take action. But sadly, many Christians would rather hold their peace.
When you hold your peace no one around you is upset. When you hold your peace there is no disagreement. When you hold your peace there is no danger of being viewed as a religious freak. We have been called to peace, right (1 Corinthians 7:15)? Sure we have. But when do you have peace in your heart? When do you have the peace that comes from knowing you stood for God today regardless of your circumstances? Sometimes that peace will only be there when you give others a piece of your mind.
Are you ready for the challenge? Are you ready to speak up instead of stay silent? Are you ready to live a life uncompromised before God? Are you ready to stand for Him regardless if you think the time is not right? Are you ready for the pain in your heart that will linger if you fail to give those who compromise a piece of your mind? There is a time to hold your peace, as well as a time to speak up (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Sometimes you just have to remember that if you hold your peace, there will be no peace in your heart.
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