Covering our mouths: A Word about words
The best way for you to convince me about your opinion is to speak to me. This may seem obvious at face value, but it’s not how our society seems to operate at present. Force is so much more efficient, and angry yelling seems to be the alternative when force is not available.
The church of all places is where we speak with each other, and where we are convinced that the Word of God is more powerful than anything else. But how quick we are to assume that the sword in our hands is of the Lord? If my conversation partner doesn’t believe my words, does that mean they haven’t submitted to God’s Word?
I both mourn and rejoice at the opportunity to speak into our cultural moment again. Are we weary over talking about Covid-19 or race relations AGAIN?! Why won’t this just go away? And in our weariness, do we begrudge our brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we have to engage in this discussion again? Wouldn’t it just be easier if they went to another church? We could have the mask wearing church over here and the non-mask wearing church over here. Maga hats over there. And the black church too… oh wait.
I mourn because this shouldn’t divide us. I rejoice because it is being used by God to bring us together. Wait, did you read that right? This controversial issue, which has become polarized in American politics, is being used by God to bring us together? Really? It doesn’t feel that way. You or I might say that it feels like it’s dividing us. It feels like I’m in the minority position, and that I’m not welcome here, and I may have to leave this church because something that seems so simple to me isn’t simple here. And so, I run away to my mountain with God and I yell out loud to him, “why won’t people listen to me?” Every psalm of lament easily runs through my mind, but rejoice? I feel like the walls are crumbling down. And if we do __ or if we don’t do __, then everything will fall apart. Really?
Maybe part of our problem is that we are in too much of a rush to find the powerful word or action, and we’re missing the most powerful Word of all. Let’s not forget the still, small whisper into Elijah’s ear. Maybe a big part of our problem is we aren’t slowing down to carefully consider God’s word. Please carefully and prayerfully consider the following verses (there’s a lot, so make sure you’ve got the time to do them justice).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:3-16
“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)
“for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22)
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15)“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” (Phil. 1:18)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” (1 Pet. 1:3-12)
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psa. 1:1-6)
“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11)
“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isa. 66:2)
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18)
In one sense, I can’t say anything more. I cover my mouth with my hand so as not to over speak beyond what God has said. On the other hand, I cannot but speak, for God has filled my heart with his word. But I challenge every one of us, are we being defiled by what is coming out of our mouths?
Have the events of 2020 been a cause of both mourning and rejoicing for you? But what do we mourn and what do we rejoice in? Do we mourn the hurt that others are feeling and that we perhaps have caused? Do we rejoice in the unity we have in the gospel with those we disagree with? What is God doing with the polarized politicization of everything in our country? What is he doing in our own church when people come to different conclusions on whether to wear a mask or not? God is not dividing his church, he is purifying his bride.
Ok, one more, I can’t help myself.
“Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29)
Yes, you may feel like the ground under your feet is being shaken. You might feel quite uncomfortable and unsettled. But, we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
So, what do you say? Can we have a conversation about these things? Are you willing to sit down over coffee with someone you might disagree with instead of posting something on Facebook and unknowingly hurt them? Your elders are committed to speaking more into these situations and not less, but you might not hear us say what you want us to say. We are seeking to shepherd you through God’s word together.
Let it be clear, we are not telling you that you must wear a mask or that you must not wear one. The government may remove that choice from us, and that would be unfortunate (not the outcome per se, but the removal of the choice). Praise God that we are in a position where we can love one another by pointing one another to the solid rock of Jesus in his word. And when would that not be the case? Only when we do not welcome one another in the Lord. Let it be clear, every single member of our church is welcome and desired with open hearts and open ears, and engendering this attitude in one another is something we must work harder at.
Let’s be more concerned about covering out mouths, listening to God’s word, and covering each other with love. Now, go read those scriptures again, and then go tell a brother or sister about what God has said.