Growing in Christ

Choose Silence

For their March 2013 issue, Christianity Today asked a few Christian leaders this question: What classic spiritual discipline is most in need of renewal among American Christians? Dallas's answer was "silence."

A classical spiritual discipline that is extremely relevant to North American Christians today is Silence. This is partly due to the simple fact that silence is, in every time and place, an essential way of breaking free from the grip of a world turned away from God and His kingdom—a world that neglects the soul. But it is also due to the peculiar conditions of contemporary life that militate against living in Divine Presence. These are: the ever-present noise of modern existence, and the overwhelming barrage of “communications” relentlessly directed upon us.

Silence has, then, two closely related dimensions. One involves evading noise or intrusive sounds. These reach deeply into our body and keep it (and us) at a constant low level of alarm.  The other has to do with avoiding talk—which, without the spiritual depth of love, proves to be little more than “intrusive sounds” (I Cor. 13:1).  The discipline of silence consists in the practice of abstaining, for significant periods of time, from noise and from talking. We step aside from them to allow development of attitudes and habits which constantly hold us, with thankful hearts, in the loving presence of God. 

This can be done in many ways. To begin with, however, it is helpful to experience a retreat center, where the practice of silence is understood and accommodated. Then, if we are so fortunate and blessed, it may become possible to practice silence at home, along with family members or others who live with us. While it must never be imposed, silence together in a loving atmosphere is incredibly enriching and rewarding. As we progress in our habits and understanding of how silence works, the exercise of this discipline will depend less and less on circumstances, though we will always need to return periodically to concentrated forms of the practice such as we have in a Retreat Center or other special arrangement. Still, the aim is to establish silence in our soul, a nourishing and sustaining reality.

Silence well practiced opens a living space in which we can be effectively attentive to God, to our own souls, and the genuine needs of those around us. The Apostle Paul directs us to “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29 NASB). James says: “If  anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man….” (3:2).  One cannot be like that by trying. 

However, one can become the kind of person who is like that. A wise and seasoned practice of silence does much to bring it about.

It is up to us to choose silence and other practices (“disciplines”) that enable us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). It will not be done for us. The discipline of silence has substantially advanced multitudes in that “grace and knowledge.”