I am about to tell you a preacher secret.

You must promise me that you will keep this secret between you and me. If this stuff ever got out it might change the face of Christianity as we know it.

Here is the big secret. It is ok when you say, “No.”

I’m not talking about saying “no” to sins and stuff, this is a radical use of the word “no.” You can say “no” to good stuff. We do stuff we really don’t want to do because it is the “right thing” to do. Or because we need to be seen doing this thing. When the preacher asks if you want to serve on the widget committee, no longer will you have to say, “Let me pray about it.” I give you permission to use the word “no” freely and without guilt or shame.

“No” is an underutilized word in our culture. Since we are politically correct, we find ourselves looking for “win-win” solutions in which we avoid using the word “no.” I know that we are to “Just say no to drugs.” I want you to keep going with that, there are good things out there that need a resounding “no” when asked.

I was reminded of this when I was changing my air conditioning filters. I went to my friendly discount store to purchase filters, since they are the only ones who carry my size. I was taking the wrap off the filters.

Just a minute, I need to digress. Why do we need to wrap everything in plastic? Wrapping an air conditioning filter, come on people; that is just dumb. Why do you need to put safety wrap on my chewing gum? See, we are surrounded by people who can’t say, “NO, wrapping an air conditioning filter in plastic is a dumb idea!”

Back to my story, as I unwrapped my filter, I noticed it contained paper over the filter, which was filled with information. Ah, the plastic wrap was holding the useless information papers to the filter! The back of the filter had a page entitled, “Getting to know your filter.” I’m sorry; I don’t want a personal relationship with my filter. I don’t want to read about what my filter filters. I don’t need to know about how many microns it filters. If you do, all I can say is “Get a life!” Someone right now is wasting precious time, “getting to know their filter.”

I said, “No!” I was not going to waste my time “getting to know my filter.”

How much better would your life be if you used the word, “No?” “No” creates margin and gives space to your life. We are all too busy, because we don’t understand the power of “no.” Jesus used it, why shouldn’t you?

You are hereby empowered to do so!