Avoid the Silent Treatment

Also, it’s important to encourage everyone to make their judgment public in the meeting, if they have a judgment to give, instead of agreeing or disagreeing in secret. 

On the “amen” side, when something spoken seems “right on,” the person who thinks so should say so.  They may be tempted to keep quiet and be edified themselves, but for the whole group to be built up in faith, the agreement needs to be verbalized. 

These heartfelt “amens” can also be essential encouragements to the members of the body who are “stumbling forward” in ministry.  All of us wonder, sometimes, if we are a bit crazy, if this thing the Lord has shown us is true or just a sign that we’re headed for the funny farm.  When I hear from a speaker or read in a book some of the beliefs that I’ve been cherishing in secret, alone, for years, I sometimes literally shout for joy.  If you want to see joy and faith burst out from your fellow Christians, be sincerely, definitely verbal in your affirmation of their ministries.

Therefore, when someone “ministers” something in the group, don’t let it go without comment.  Make sure that the group acknowledges it, somehow. 

Sometimes, no one says anything because they don’t know what to make of it—so obviously some clarification is needed.  It may be that people disagree with it, but they are just being too nice—so obviously some public discussion and/or correction is needed.  It may be that what was shared is good and true, and no one is speaking because no one has a problem with it.  In this case, at least a few quick “amens” are needed to establish it, to make sure everyone in the church is on the same page—likeminded. 

If there is no response to what was said, then any edification will be scattershot and individual, not corporate. 

Coming soon...Chapter 4.28:  End in a Voice of Unity

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