Our God is a God who hears us, and He has created us in His image to hear Him (Ps. 65:2; 85:8). In the life of faith, much depends on hearing. Saving faith comes by it, and sanctification grows through it (Rom. 10:17; Prov. 1:5). Some of our Lord’s most memorable admonitions—“Take heed how you hear” and “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”—remind us that our sense of hearing must be sanctified in the service of our souls.

We often take this biblical priority of hearing in the affective sense, as a synonym for heeding, and rightly so. What enters the ears and stops short of the heart is of no use. But in this fallen world of human frailty, there are those who struggle to hear at all. This article is about how we as a church can better minister to brothers and sisters among us who must experience the worship and fellow-ship of the church as if wearing ear plugs. There are such in every congregation.

Oftentimes they are older saints, but not always. Some have suffered hearing loss as a result of Covid-19. My own hearing loss began when I was an infant after several bad ear infections, and it was exacerbated by my service in the Army. I was fitted for my first pair of hearing aids at the ripe old age of 27. I have met a few believers with similar stories, or worse ones, but hearing impairment is common among us. If the Lord ordains enough years of life for you, the day will inevitably come when “the daughters of music are brought low” (Eccl. 12:4).

The Scriptures direct us on loving our neighbor in this instance. Leviticus 19:14 puts the point tersely, saying, “You shall not curse the deaf.” I doubt very many people have broken this law in its most literal sense, but my own experience has taught me that hearing impairment is perhaps the only disability that some people do not mind making fun of you for having (or getting mad at you for having).

As a seminarian in 1997, I was given two minutes to speak to the Synod about my experience at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS). I couldn’t hear the little bell that indicated my time was up, so I spoke for another minute or two. Then-president Jerry O’Neill (God bless him!) rose to the microphone to explain that I was not being disrespectful but that I simply could not hear the bell. The Synod erupted in laughter. I was stunned.

There may be subtle ways in which we unwittingly breach this commandment, but let’s turn our attention to how we may thoughtfully keep it. In catechetical style, let’s consider the question: What are the duties required by Leviticus 19:14? As a church, we can think of how to keep this commandment in terms of our worship, fellowship, and shepherding.

Our worship almost always takes place in large, echoing rooms in which it is inherently hard to hear, even for folks with good hearing. Pastors would do well to remember that there are sheep out there literally straining to hear them, and there is nothing more frustrating than wanting to be a hearer of the Word but being unable to hear it. A clear, strong voice and plenty of eye contact go a long way in making sure the Word of God is heard. It is equally important to use your “preaching voice” while praying so that all may follow along and every amen will be meaningful. Traditional amplification helps for some, but it makes matters worse for others. If you already have a sound system, it is easy enough to add wireless headphones and make them available. Most of all, ask those who have hearing loss if they are struggling, and if the church can do more to help them at worship.

When it comes to the fellowship of all the members of the body, there are ways to lovingly accommodate those who are not the ears (1 Cor. 12:16). Our fellowship, like our worship, almost always takes place in large, echoing rooms, but with the added sound of dozens of conversations taking place at once, children playing, and babies crying. These are wonderful sounds that the body of Christ makes, but such settings make fellowship difficult and even frustrating for the hearing impaired. Some will withdraw, sit alone, or simply not attend such functions rather than have to strain (or pretend) to follow conversations they cannot hear.

One way to refresh the soul of a hearing-impaired brother is to step away from the crowd, give him your full attention, and converse in a clear voice in the quietest part of the room. Even better, take time to fellowship in other settings where you know it will be easier. Christian fellowship is one of the sweetest blessings on earth, and there are a few, simple things like this that can be done to help those enjoy it more fully who otherwise struggle to even be a part of it.

In terms of shepherding, sessions and deacons can start by finding out who is hearing-impaired in their congregation (there are likely more than you think), then discuss how to minister to them in a thoughtful way and meet any unmet needs. These are simple questions that can be asked during regular elder visits, especially when visiting with older saints. Deacon boards may also consider the fact that a useful set of hearing aids—real ones, not the “as seen on TV” kind—cost around $5,000 and must be replaced every three years or so. Some people can’t hear because they can’t afford it. Helping with this cost would be one way to exemplify the positive, loving duties implied by Leviticus 19:14.

As with all the commandments, our Savior kept this one perfectly (Mark 7:31–37). As a testimony to His divine power, love, and willingness to save, He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf (Matt. 11:5). We walk in His steps by caring for such, even in small ways, until that day comes when, once and for all, the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped (Isa. 35:5).

“Hear, O Israel!” is the great admonition of the Old Testament and the preamble to the greatest commandment (Deut. 6:4). It is our calling to hear, and to help each other hear, the Word of God. It is a duty to take seriously, and in so doing we can rejoice in the thought that, one day, this admonition will become a perfected reality. We will indeed hear the voice of our Savior, together, without any dullness of heart or hearing.