EDIFIED BY SILENCE

“I said, ‘I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.’
I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.
My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.
I spoke with my tongue.” (Psalm 39:1-3)

Pambo of Nitria (315-390 AD) was one of the Desert Fathers. It is said of him that that after hearing Psalm 39 from his spiritual father, Anthony the Great, that he made a decision, “I said, I will watch my ways so as to be unable to sin with my tongue.'” He did not say a word to his master for six months but worked to internalize this passage, and he humbly told other monks that he had scarcely internalized it even eighteen years late. (Some of quote from Wikipedia)

Later in Pambo’s life is a story about Theophilus, the Archbishop of Alexandria, visiting the monks in Scetis. The brethren asked Abba Pambo to speak words of edification to the Archbishop. Abba Pambo responded with the quote, “If I cannot edify you by my silence, then I certainly cannot edify you by my words.”

Something besides our words must influence others. I’m thinking it is character, behavior and listening.

“I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Jesus