You Have the Right to Remain Silent

I love to watch comedians at work. Sorry to say, most of them are so foulmouthed that I can’t repeat most of their material and I am uncomfortable recommending anyone listen to them. But I manage to filter through their foul language and enjoy the humor in the gist of what they have to say. I believe a good preacher can learn much from studying comedians. We can not only learn much about delivery and timing but also about how to look at life.

One of my favorite comedy routines is Ron White telling about being arrested in New York City and charged with public drunkenness. You can watch it here but don’t come back to me complaining about his language. In his monologue he mentions that while he was being arrested he was in formed that he had the right to remain silent – but he didn’t have the ability. I wish more people were aware that they have the right to remain silent and that they would do well to exercise that right at every opportunity. I guess what I am saying is the next time someone tells you to shut up, instead of being offended, just shut up.

Talking, or the tongue, causes trouble. The Bible is clear on the negative power of talking. In the third chapter of James we read some powerful words about the tongue. “My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body. By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things. It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.” (James 3:1-8)

I know we live in a culture that suggests we need to talk more; especially we men. We are being told that we need to talk more; share our feelings; get things out in the open. To that I say, shut up. Words have power. They have the power to build up and the power to tear down. The power to pull people together and the power to rip people apart. We can speak words of life and words of death.

Most of us talk without giving thought to what we are saying and to whom we are talking and to the damage our words might do. We just talk. Most people think that since talking makes them feel better it must be a good thing. Talking lets people know what we are thinking and how we are feeling. That’s nice. But some questions must be asked. Questions like: “Do they need to know what I am thinking and how I feel?” “What or who will be helped (or hurt) by my talking about this?” Or the question I have been taught to ask to help me know if my conversation will be gossip – “Is the person I am talking to a part of the problem or a part of the solution?” If they are neither, I am gossiping. I think we would be amazed how often we are gossiping because we are not helping the situation but, instead, we are getting people on our side or telling people our story – or our side of the story. And that is gossip. Even if we are talking to family or close friends – when they are neither a part of the problem or the solution it is gossip.

I am encouraging you to think before talking to someone else about something. Assume everyone you know, and several people you don’t know, will know what you are saying within a week. So think, do you want everyone to know? Think - Who could be hurt by what I am saying? Do I care? Think before you talk because what you say could destroy a relationship or destroy a reputation or destroy trust or destroy someone’s faith. Trust me; I know what I am talking about here.

Remember, you have the right to remain silent. And you have the ability. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to shut up.

Copyright © 2011, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved