By: Scott Adkins, Sling ‘n Stone Ministry
Carter County Times
U.S. Navy SEAL Teams live and die by their code of silence: they perform fantastic feats of valor, but stay silent about those feats. Former SEAL Team 6 member Matt Bissonnette broke that code of silence when his book, No Easy Day, detailed Team 6’s May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Today, Bissonnette stands an outcast from the SEAL brotherhood, officially declared persona non grata by his former comrades.
What do Navy SEALs and their code of silence have to do with us Christians? Quite a bit, actually. SEALS fight freedom’s most dangerous foes. We fight Satan for eternal souls. (Ephesians 6:11-18) Like SEALS, we Christians fight a deadly foe, but one even more powerful and dangerous than the mere mortal men our SEALS must vanquish. Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) requires we soldier for Him, (II Timothy 2:4); endure hardness as His “good soldier,” (II Timothy 2:3); and “war a good warfare.” (I Timothy 1:18).
Like SEALS impose on themselves their code of silence, Christ imposes on us His code of silence. Really? Yes. In John 7:18, our Lord forbids us to speak of ourselves – forbids – us seeking our own glory. Proverbs 25:27 forbids searching for our own glory. Proverbs 27:2 urges we “let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth.” Why?
First, obeying John 7:18’s code of silence prevents pride and stealing the Lord’s glory, which He shares with no one. (Isaiah 42:8). Second, even if not aiming to speak of ourselves, or to steal His glory, but to “strengthen the brethren,” (Luke 22:32), speaking and breaking His code of silence still gives Satan an opening. How? When, for example, we speak about what Jesus has us doing for Him vis-à-vis the Great Commission, or other ministry efforts, we invite criticism – and oftentimes, criticism from brethren within the church, who take offense at even well-intentioned, but misguided, speaking that breaks John 7:18’s code of silence – a code imposed by the Lord Himself.
We must obey John 7:18’s code of silence. If we do not, regardless of our intentions, we risk strife and division within the church. And we present our enemy with an opportunity, which he will not ignore. Either we obey, and adhere to, Jesus’s code of silence, or we suffer His rebuke (Revelation 3:19), and Satan’s attacks. As in all things, we must obey Jesus – or else. (Revelation 2:5).
Like now-outcast former Navy SEAL Matt Bissonnette, this writer recently, but unintentionally, broke John 7:18’s code of silence. His intentions notwithstanding, this writer learned the hard way what happens when we hear, but fail to do, the Word – all of it, including John 7:18. Far better we remain silent and let either visible results or others publicize our work for Him. (Proverbs 25:27; 27:2).