"We can choose to be silent"

Based on obedience to the Holy Spirit, of course we can.

It is a cornerstone of spiritual growth

Wisdom is knowing when to remain silent and knowing when to speak-up.

"Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8-9)

Dan57 said:

Wisdom is knowing when to remain silent and knowing when to speak-up.

"Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8-9)

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That verse is so amazing. It has always been one of the most encouraging and inspiring verses.

Proverbs 27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Galatians 4:16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Matthew 10:42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

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JesusIsFaithful said:

Proverbs 27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Galatians 4:16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Matthew 10:42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

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Then there will be times when using His wisdom & descretion as to know when to not say anything at all or continue saying anything at all.

Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
There are honest seekers seeking answers and there are mockers that refuse any answers, and there are the astray that will scorn the answers given, and the disciples led by Him to prove all things by Him to receive it.

I really need Jesus as my Good Shepherd to help me know when to walk away from a discussion in Christ's love with someone that is a scorner, and I need His help to even walk away and not just knowing when to walk away.

We must never choose to be silent. We must always make a noise. Either with actions or preaching. What else are we here to do? Does God want us to sit on the job?
Risk of being a fool > Risk of guilt for not sharing the truth

KingJ said:

We must never choose to be silent. We must always make a noise. Either with actions or preaching. What else are we here to do? Does God want us to sit on the job?

Risk of being a fool > Risk of guilt for not sharing the truth

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That type of adamancy is NOT in line with scripture KJ.


Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Jesus was mostly silent through his trial. When people are accusing you, threatening you, or have no genuine interest in what you believe, its probably best not to indulge them because such conversation is folly. "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matthew 7:6).

But I believe we are encouraged to represent Christ and answer honest questions; "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus also answered many questions from the Pharisees, a Christian doesn't run away from controversy. But of course its wise to remain silent when you don't know the answer.
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StanJ said:

That type of adamancy is NOT in line with scripture KJ.


Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

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I don't disagree with you Stan. I am looking at it differently ^_^. For a Christian, 'silence' is a response / noise.