Thankfully the phrase used by some parents, “Children are to
be seen and not heard” is no longer a popular piece of parenting advice.  Similar phrases and slogans have become
assumptions passed down from one generation to the next without taking the time
to discover their demeaning result. Yes, children need to know when to politely
enter a conversation, but relegating a child to a life of silence among adults
dishonors them and presents an image of a god who perpetually sees them as an
interruption.  Jesus said to not hinder
children from coming to Him.  Jesus knew
children would approach Him with undeveloped social skills and it did not
bother Him.

Imagine if God were to say, “I want my children to be seen
and not heard.” A prohibition against a two-way conversation with God would effectively
create a relationship of silence and it would kill the rise of any future prayer
movement where talking with God is central to its mission. The “seen and not
heard” kind of comment is not alone.  We
all can find ourselves parroting other equally foolish and unthinking phrases
without considering their content and affect.

As 2016 rises on the horizon of your calendar take some time
to review the words you speak – many made with innocent assumption – and check
their validity and place in your vocabulary. There are similar phrases you may
need to review and reconsider to see if they should remain in your future conversations.
This review and reconsideration is part of the renewal process of our thinking.
When you challenge these assumptions you will upset some people.  That’s OK. This is the substance of a two-way
conversation where we learn how to grow in grace with each other. It also helps
to keep our voice sounding credible to a world tired of worn-out religious cliché.