THE FAITH OF THE SILENT ONE

There is a main character in the Nativity that gets less attention than the magi or the shepherds. Joseph. Probably, we never hear much about him because we never heard anything from him. I’m sure that Joseph was not mute, incapable of speech. But, in the record of Scripture, he doesn’t say anything. He’s silent. In our carols, even the “cattle are lowing” in the nativity. But, Joseph’s saying nothing. The absence of any quotes attributed to Joseph only accentuates his faith. He said nothing. He just did as instructed by God! This is a great expression of faith. Perhaps, the greatest. When it became evident that his fiancé Mary was expectant, Joseph was asked to accept the fact that she had not been unfaithful to him, that the embryo growing in her had been conceived by the Spirit of God. Joseph was instructed to proceed with marrying her. Joseph said nothing. He didn’t argue with the angel. He didn’t quiz Mary. He didn’t protest, complain or express his doubts—which he had to have had. He said nothing. He just did it. He married her. That took a lot of faith. Or, his doing so brought a lot of faith. Or both. After the magi’s visit, when warned in a dream to depart immediately for a foreign country in the opposite direction of home to protect his wife’s child from impending infanticide, again, Joseph did not argue with the angel, protest, complain, or express doubts and misgivings. He just got out of bed in the middle of the night, got his family up, packed the donkey, and, started down the road the many-days’ journey to Egypt. The holy family became settled after dwelling there three years or so. Again, in a dream an angel told him it was time to move, to get up and go all the way back home. Once again. Joseph said nothing. He just got up and did it. I am convinced that much of our struggle with faith comes from simply not doing our faith. We struggle. We question. We complain. We begrudge. We opine. We dialogue. We monologue. All to no avail. We struggle with our faith. I believe Joseph discovered the secret: When struggling with your faith, when assailed with doubts, when plagued with questions, when discouraged to believe, just do your faith. Do the will of God. Live the Word of God. The child of Joseph’s wife, when grown, codified this truth: Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine ...” (Joh 7:17). The way to really “get” truth is simply to do truth. You’ll get it if you do it. It is not wrong to ask questions—even out loud. It is not wrong to discuss struggles of faith. It is not wrong to wrestle verbally while trying to reconcile realities that seemingly conflict with spiritual truths. Not at all. But, in the end, so much of the struggle with our faith comes from not doing our faith. We, who believe in salvation through faith alone, shy and shirk from any mention of “doing” (works). We aren’t saved by doing. Faith saves us. But a faith that saves is a faith that does something. It’s the doing that brings expression to faith, gives it a voice, and confirms its reality. Modern Christianity no longer brings up this matter of doing because then it must bring up the matter of obedience. But in the end, it is our obedience to truth that chases away our doubts of the truth. As the old hymn notes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Obeying doesn’t just bring happiness; it brings a settledness and certainty of faith. I’ve not been asked, but for all who may be struggling with their faith, search the Word. Yes, definitely! Talk about it. Find a trusted spiritual advisor who roots his counsel in the Word and talk it over with him. Discuss it. Debate it. But, if you really want to still your doubts and let your faith speak loudly, there’s a time to stop talking about it and to just do it. Do the Truth. Follow Joseph’s example. Just do the Word of God. Just obey. People doubt much because they do little. I have not been completely honest with you about Joseph. Scripture does record Joseph’s saying something. One thing. One word. In an indirect quote, not a direct one. The narrative notes that when Joseph named the child he named him “Jesus.” Even then, Joseph was doing what the angel had instructed. Yes, Joseph is to be commended for his faith. He just does what he’s asked. He is silent. Except when saying the name of “Jesus.” Pastor Clifford Hurst