The saying is, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” Children often receive this advice, but some carry it with them permanently into adulthood. The rule sounds innocent but becomes problematic when a person does not like hearing the necessary truth. Should I stay silent if they think my message is not nice? A Christian hesitating over this concern should consider this: What a person needs to hear is not always pleasant to receive (Heb. 12:11).
God has instructed Christians to share the gospel with the world (Mark 16:15-16). The hope of salvation in Christ is a nice message, but with that great blessing comes the requirement of repentance (Acts 17:30-31). In the days of John, the relative of Jesus, the people asked how they should repent. In Luke 3:11-14, John responded by identifying specific areas where they were practicing sin. Some were callous toward the needs of others. Some were greedy and deceitful. Some were bullies who abused the weak. John gave an honest, truthful assessment of their sins. He communicated the truth of God boldly for the benefit of the listeners. He was truthful and bold, but truthful correction is always difficult to bear. Sometimes, what God has said is not considered nice by the world. But Christians are no less responsible for telling it.
John’s unashamed communication of the truth concluded with his head on a platter (Mark 6:17-18, 23-28), but the listener's response did not remove his responsibility to speak the truth. It is better to say nothing if you aren’t speaking the truth. But if the truth a person needs to hear is just “not nice,” speak it nonetheless, for souls are at stake.
Opmerkingen