Silence

Silence has several meanings.  Identity of the meaning of silence depends upon the context in which it appears.  It may mean ignorance, consideration, uncertainty, suffering, ecstasy, cowardice, evasion, approval/disapproval, or some derivative related to these contexts when it may occur.  The length of the period of silence, long or short in time, may make a difference in the interpretation of it.  Eyes, body movements, dynamics (known as non-verbal) in oral contexts, and other accompaniment (as the use of some object), perhaps also as in omissions even in written materials where silence (omission) is a factor interpreted in various ways as indicated by the culture and the participation of persons.  (Throwing a shoe at the president of the United States at a mass meeting was the message a Muslim man communicated.  The man not only disagreed with the president, but in the gesture declared his disdain for him.)  Silence is often a factor in communication and may be greater in meaning than the words that appear along the way.  The silence of a parent in the observation of a serious child may be the best discipline the child may be afforded for the occasion.  Even the silences of God are important to the involvement of God with mankind.  Some of those silences are interpreted differently by persons.  It takes wisdom to interpret contexts so to know when to use the factor, and how it may be used by those with whom we have to do in any situation.  Silence or the breaking of silence becomes important to the Christian.  We learn the wisdom of either refraining or engaging in communication as it relates to our beliefs and conducts – and sometimes to the beliefs and conducts of others.  It is a part of communication skills, and is common in marriage, the discipline of children, and effectiveness in virtually all we do in human relationships, and often in spiritual matters.  It is an important factor in Christian witness in both engagement and disengagement related to communication and activity.  Prayer during the silences of God may be difficult.  They often serve well, praying persons.

It is common habit in general society to underrate silence, to give it unintended meanings, or slight it. D. G. Hart reviewed the book, Silence: A Christian History, authored by Diarmaid MacCullock.  In the review Hart summarized three themes from the book: 1) The theological formulations and devotional practices that turn silence into a virtue.  Hart chooses from the text the silence about the details of the resurrection that deals with a major point of Christianity, and the withdrawal of monks, hermits and others into monasteries and private quarters to gain absence from sound as a way to avoid the noise of the world in a pursuit of a word from God.  2) The silences and contradictions in Christians and institutions in using silence to avoid the penalties of both the church and society during persecutions.  3) The silence of Christian officials and historians who covered up unpleasant and damning aspects of church life.  The matters of gender discrimination, slavery, the Holocaust, and sexual abuse are cited.  (As this is being written the Catholic Church is emerging from personal and legal reactions and responses generated from the silences of her authorities related to sexual deviations by some clergy. Silence may mean guilt/sorrow.)

Hart finds MacCullock short in not noting that the different episodes of large silences are not equally deplorable, and does not explore the moral and devotional ambiguities of whether to keep silent or not, along with the changing circumstances that affected . . . pious and tragic decisions, ‘Silence’ too often credits or blames its subjects rather than . . . using silence to make sense of what happened. (Wall Street Journal, 10/28/2013, pg. A13)

Social life and influence are greatly affected by the quality of the sounds and silences that visit it.  MacCulloch states that on sound (noise): does the health of Christian society depend.  It sometimes depends upon its silences.  It takes knowledge and understanding to reach the wisdom to know which of the contexts to follow to achieve the biblical first priority – the communication of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the evaluation of the general society this may not seem to contribute to the health of the Christian society. The health of the church is related to two large objectives: the communication of the Gospel and the maturing of Christians in righteousness as interpreted by God.  Right reflects the silent holiness of God.