David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 11:1-18

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, ³ “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” ⁴ But Peter began and explained it to them in order: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. ⁶ Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; ¹⁴ he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ ¹⁵ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Diane and I both have coached pastors and their spouses for PLI. There is an important distinction between coaching and teaching or mentoring. With the latter you are trying to impart wisdom or knowledge. Coaching, however, is like drawing water from a well. You’re trying to help the one you’re coaching discern his or her own path forward. The idea is that the coachee knows what needs to be done, the coach is trying to help him or her realize it.

One of the coaching tools might be counterintuitive. Silence is a powerful tool in the coach’s tool box. To combat the tendency we have toward teaching or giving advice (not coaching), we have an acronym: W.A.I.T. It stands for “Why Am I Talking?” We may need to talk on occasion. But there are times where silence is helpful. It allows the coachee to think, process information, form ideas, and reach conclusions.

Take this silence to the next level. Consider Proverbs 10:19, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Those who had questions about Peter’s actions exhibit great wisdom when they fell silent.

This impresses me. And it’s more than a matter of keeping silent and letting people think you’re a fool or opening your mouth and remove all doubt. This is the proper posture toward God. Rather than trying to prove our worth, we must remain silent and wait for God’s word to reach our hearts.

I’ve been blessed to have been silenced on a few occasions. I was blessed partly because I fell silent. I stopped trying to make excuses. I didn’t offer a defense of the indefensible. I was blessed more so because God was offering me grace. And grace is a precious thing.

Next time you are tempted to prattle on ask yourself the question, “Why Am I Talking?” Silence might prove to be a greater blessing to you and those around you. God may want to work on your heart in the quiet moments. Or as I’ve said before, “Walk a little more slowly. Speak a little softer. Listen more carefully. Because the world is loud and God whispers.”