Lack in Tact
By Mindy Silva
The word tact
may be missing
from some of the
many versions of
the Bible that
we seem to have
around these
days. It also
seems to be
missing from our
spiritual
makeup. We lack
tact. Though the
word itself may
be lacking in
whatever version
of the Bible you
happen to have,
be assured that
the intent of
the word— is
still there.
Don’t we just
love Paul’s
admonishments?
There are so
many things he
covered in his
epistles that
anyone would
think he is
still around
somewhere busily
writing to the
church of today.
Human nature is
human nature and
the Lord gave
him to
understand that
in a born-again
believer, that
human nature has
to go. We have
no excuse.
Every sin
committed after
we are
born-again is
still sin. It’s
still called
sin, too, and
recognized as
such. He didn’t
mince his words.
Yet, he spoke
with love,
caring, and
concern. And, he
lived what he
preached—for his
body had the
marks to prove
his words; his
message on the
behavior and
conduct of the
born-again
believer?
(If I can
do it, so can
you.)
Paul brought his
words across in
such a way meant
to show
we can do it. As a matter of fact, he insisted that one who still
sins does not
know God. And he
wasn’t
addressing
himself to
unbelievers
either, but to
the saved, the
born-again
believer in
Christ Jesus. He
didn’t say it
was easy; on the
contrary, his
words were based
on his own
experiences of
living for
Christ.
And he was
showing us how
to do the same.
We are
admonished to
live a peaceful
quiet life, not
to gossip, not
to speak evil of
dignitaries.
This is
something many
are brain-dead
about; they just
cannot recall
seeing it in the
Bible. We are
also told how to
address the
saved and how to
address the
unsaved. Yet
sometimes we
find ourselves
speaking words
among the saved,
as if we were
still living as
the unsaved.
In speaking
among believers,
the same tact we
exhibit when
speaking to
unbelievers
should also mark
our speech and
be reflected in
what we say and
how we say it.
We cannot speak
to the saved
with words the
unsaved are
accustomed to
using.
Otherwise, the
approach defeats
the purpose. Our
speech denotes
what we carry
with us inside
our hearts.
Our words, which
should be
seasoned with
salt, sometimes
seem to evidence
too much salt;
forgetting it is
pollution in an
environment of
purity and
sanctity.
We don’t stop to
think how to
bring across the
right words in
our message,
whether in
conversation or
in our
correspondence.
Where is
the time made
for reflecting,
meditating on
the best
approach in
addressing the
uprising in our
spirit, whether
the uprising is
justified or
not? And, even
if one thinks it
is justified,
one should pause
momentarily
before
responding,
shoot a short
silent prayer up
to heaven and
ask for the Holy
Spirit to put
the right words
in our mouth,
for it is out of
the heart, the
mouth speaks.
Our composition
should reflect
the same thing.
When our spirit
is uncontrolled,
unbridled, often
what we say and
do can come
across as an
attack, or worse
– lack of
spirituality.
Unbridled, it
can be perceived
as cold and
impersonal when
it isn’t meant
to be that way.
What then
happens to the
brotherhood/sisterhood
in Christ? The
uprising of the
ego seems to
lead us into
transgressing in
areas that are
to be included
on the list of
the fruit of the
spirit.
Be gentle, able
to know how to
answer – this
not just for
when we deal
with those on
the outside; it
applies to
everyone. The
same courtesy
afforded one,
should be
afforded the
other. Even
outsiders know
more about a
true Christian’s
behavior than
most Christians
tend to know
themselves.
Our speech has
to match our
walk; after all,
we are
surrounded by a
cloud of
witnesses. We
are to be
humble, letting
our yes be yes,
and our no, be
our nay. When it
is anything
other than that,
we are stepping
onto rocky
ground. What is
noted by others
then is the
absence of tact.
Yet, we are to
swallow what
others can’t,
and are to leave
nothing on hold
in the inside.
The receiving
end may not
always perceive
it in that
light, for tact
doesn’t involve
giving in or
being stupid.
Being gentle as
doves and wise
as serpents,
means knowing
when it’s the
best time to
act, and not to
act; when to say
yes, and when to
say no.
Being tactful,
means being
non-confrontational;
confrontational
assaults are
unbecoming to
us, especially
as born-again
believers. We
can’t always
avoid
confrontations
for these
assaults can
come hidden in
many forms –
addressed to a
particular
person, or
disguised in a
group email.
How those
confrontations
are handled, is
where tact is
much needed and
should be
employed…asking
ourselves what
is really at
stake here— the
truth, or the
ego and whose
ego?
And yes, though
we are not all
alike, the
tongue which is
tied to our
mouths which is
tied to our
brains, needs to
be bridled in
addition to our
spirit so we can
be alike at
least in that
sense. The Bible
leaves no room
for doubt in how
we are to
conduct
ourselves. There
is much written
about that. But
it tends to be
overlooked as if
it doesn’t apply
to us
personally. But,
is it a matter
of picking and
choosing then?
Maybe there is
confusion in our
spiritual
makeup. Maybe
the problem
might be that
since our walk
is a personal
one with the
Master, what His
Word says on a
particular issue
cannot possibly
apply to us!
“Oh, no, that
doesn’t apply to
me,” one might
say.
But it
does. Every word
on conduct and
behavior with
all types of
people, whether
Christian or
not, is spelled
out word for
word in the
Bible.
Opportunistic
avenues of
transmitting our
hidden assaults
are signs of
deviousness…unbecoming
to the saint.
Being wise as
serpents and
gentle as doves,
does not mean
being devious,
cloaking our
likes and
dislikes, our
slights and
intents. Nor
does it mean
being
manipulative or
getting on our
high horse and
galloping
throughout
Christendom
vociferously
claiming our
opinions. Doing
so invites many
unwanted,
unsavory spirits
of malevolence
to seep in, and
setting an
example that
only serves to
mimic the very
distasteful
deeds of the
world. God
forbid!
While the world
glitters, and
sparkles and
flashes and
competes for the
head of the line
(no matter whose
guts get ripped
on the way to
get there) that
is not our way.
It shouldn’t be.
We are not
called to
duplicate those
ways, we are
called to be
different, to
exhibit the
opposite for we
have been called
out of that
world. A life
not just
sanctified in
Christ, but one
who shows it.
There is such a
thing as
becoming
righteously
indignant and
yet not
considered sin.
Yet some do not
know where to
draw the line,
and go overboard
in trying to get
the message
across in
whatever way
they can without
figuring what
the cost is
going to be—on
both sides. This
only adds to the
apparent
inconsistency in
not being fully
equipped with
the Word and
that we need to
spend more time
with our noses
in it.
It may be
difficult at
times,
especially now
in these latter
days, to lead a
quiet peaceful
life, and not to
be taken aback
or surprised at
any of the
socio-cultural-political
issues that make
our blood boil
sky high. It
doesn’t mean we
won’t feel this
way at some time
or another, but
we are expected
to know this is
the way of the
world and we are
called out to be
different from
that world. And
as every day
goes
by…everything is
leading to more
of the same, and
worse.
We can’t jump on
every campaign
and fume over
every injustice,
can we? God is
still in control
guys. We may not
understand
certain things
or agree with
others most of
the time, but we
are to be
cognizant of who
we are in
Christ. Our job,
our mission is
to make
disciples of
men. To spread
the gospel…in
any way we can.
If we deviate
from this then
we cultivate a
radical approach
to our
Christianity
that is then
attacked by
those who are
not Christian.
They are more
aware it seems,
of how a true
Christian is to
behave than we
do ourselves.
Our
conduct and our
talk are
dissected in
order to condemn
the very reason
for our
existence—Christ.
And in being a
follower of
Christ, are we
showing
meekness? Are we
being humble?
Are we striving
for purity?
After all, we
are followers of
our Lord and
Savior, so, yes;
we are then to
be imitators of
Him also.
Realize that
some things are
not meant for us
to handle. Yes,
we don’t like,
or agree on,
certain things
going on in the
world,
especially in
these last of
the last days,
but we are not
to lash out as
if we still
operate from
that worldview.
If we do,
then it opens
the door to
things we have
no control over,
and we might end
up taking it
personally. We
shouldn’t take
anything
personally. It
doesn’t mean we
ignore it. The
fact is that
whatever IT
is—IT exists.
But, were we
called to fight
that battle?
Or any other
battle?
What did Paul
say our battle
was all about?
We are seeing
deception in
every nook,
crevice and
cranny of our
daily lives. It
shouldn’t take
us by surprise
by reacting to
any of it; even
the things
taking place
within the body
of Christ. Yes,
we should be at
the ready but
with our
spiritual might
given to us in
Scripture, for
though Jesus
told us He was
giving us power
over ALL the
enemy, it still
has to be His
way in the
Spirit—not our
carnal nature.
We should be
praying as we
consider what is
working on our
attention and
depleting us of
our spiritual
energy. They
only serve to
divert us from
what is truly
important in our
life as the Body
of Christ with
the potential of
it becoming a
thorn in our
side.
But Paul did
manage to live
with his thorn
in the side…can
we?
©Mindy Silva
2013
Burundanga.net
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