Bonhoeffer: 1. the ministry of holding one's tongue

Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Meditation:
    The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
    —Luke 6:45 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the fellowship:
    1. The ministry of holding one’s tongue

    Often we combat our evil thoughts most effectively if we absolutely refuse to allow them to be expressed in words... Thus it must be a decisive rule of every Christian fellowship that each individual is prohibited from saying much that occurs to him. This prohibition does not include the personal word of advice and guidance... But to speak about a brother is forbidden, even under the cloak of help and goodwill; for it is precisely in this guise that the spirit of hatred among brothers creeps in when it is seeking to create mischief.
    ... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954], tr. Daniel W. Bloesch & James H. Burtness, Fortress Press, 2004, p. 94 (see the book)
    See also Luke 6:45; Matt. 12:34-37; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; Phil. 1:15-17; 2:3; Col. 3:16; Jas. 3:14-16
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, guard me from saying ill of my brother.

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