But I hope that readers will keep cautions in mind. First, I hope that preachers will not hear Taylor's respect for silence as our excuse for not wrestling with difficult theological and moral issues. She does not intend restraint to mean retreat. On the one hand, we do not want to casually presume that we know the divine mind, but, on the other hand, we need to say all we can, and to continue to push the envelope of our awareness. Of course, pastoral sensitivity may lead a preacher to recognize that the climate in a specific situation is not right for an overt theological interpretation.
Some situations call for an immediate ministry of presence without words.
Theological interpretation may need to wait until persons or communities are in a frame of mind to be able to process such communication. Otherwise, we leave the congregation at the mercy of indiscriminate feeling. Feelings can be as idolatrous as speech. Silence and language exist in a relationship of mutual interpretation. Preachers may not be able to say all that needs to be said, but we need to say all that we can.