The Sin of Silence
We are living in a world that speaks at a high volume. It speaks confidently, convincingly and incorrectly. The steady drum beat of changing times seems to be the only voice we hear. Many churches and followers of Christ are silent when they witness the opposition of what those in the world are doing and saying against the Word of God.
For years, it appears that the church has taken a backseat to the vocal immoral practices and policies which we have seen within our nation. What is God’s view on the silence of the church and His followers?
Ezekiel 33:8-9
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
The Lord says through Ezekiel when the wicked are not warned, the blood is on the one who saw the danger and did not warn them. If the wiched are warned, but do not change their ways, then the one who warned is released from all responsibility. There is a penalty to keeping silent.
When we look at the book of Jonah, we find God telling Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn them of their wickedness. Jonah chose not to warn them, but rather flee from God. He ends up on a ship and while they are out to sea, the weather turns bad. During this time Jonah states he is running from God, to which the crew throws him in the sea. While he is in the sea, a great fish swallows Jonah and he is in the belly of the fish for three days.
Why was God displeased with Jonah? It is because he chose silence rather than warn the wicked of their ways. After Jonah repents and goes to Nineveh, we find the city turns from their wicked ways and is spared the wrath of God.
In I Samuel we read about Eli the Priest who had two sons named Hophni and Phinehas. These two sons did wickedness, yet Eli didn’t warn them. Samuel speaks to the Lord and the Lord tells Samuel that He is going to judge the house of Eli forever because of his sons and the fact that Eli did not rebuke them (I Samuel 3:13).
Apparently, God was bringing judgment to Eli and his sons due to his sons’ transgressions and Eli’s failure to warn them. The two sons die in battle while Eli dies when he hears the Ark of the Covenant has been taken. Eli’s death was because he did not warn his sons of their wickedness or rather, kept silent.
It is the enemy’s weapon to get the Church to be silent. When we look at the early Church, they were not silent. They proclaimed the name of Jesus throughout their land. In fact, in Acts chapter 5 we find the Apostles were told to not teach in the name of Jesus, yet they did not remain silent. Rather, they responded when questioned as follows:
Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Who are we obeying when we remain silent? Is it God, man, or the enemy? It is not God’s will that His Church and followers remain silent. Rather, it’s that we take a vocal stand for truth, condemn sin and proclaim the gospel (literally good news).
Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
When we look at the modern-day Church, are we “reproving” wickedness or are we joining forces? Are we exposing immorality for what it is, or do we turn a blind eye with a closed mouth when we see our society falling? Or worse are we being entertained by the sin of the world? Are we committing the sin of silence?
Galatians 6:7-8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The truth of God’s Word states He will not be mocked. When we, as a society or individual, follow our flesh, we will bring God’s judgment. We have numerous examples in the Bible which record a society turning away from God, then facing His judgment.
An example which most people know of is the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Due to their sinfulness, God destroyed them completely. However, we read in Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus stating if the mighty works which had been done in their current society, had been done in Sodom, they would have repented. Why would God not have done some mighty works in Sodom, if they would have repented?
II Peter 2:7-8
And if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
(For by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds)
Lot was in Sodom and is referred to as righteous. God had a man within this wicked city, but apparently, Lot kept his mouth shut. He withheld speaking of righteousness though he was righteous and because of it, we do not read about them repenting. Only if the works which were done among those in Sodom, which were done in Israel at that time, would they have repented. Are we committing the sin of silence?
Are we more concerned about attracting people than warning people? Are our events geared towards the desires of the flesh? Are we more focused on having a family movie night at church than reproving the evil works within the movie industry? Are we more focused on the décor of our building than the depravity of a soul? Is our attention on the best flavor of coffee in the church coffee shop or the stench of sin which rises before the throne of God?
How many people and communities have not turned to God because His Church and followers are committing the sin of silence? How many have not been heard of the hope of Christ because we have remained silent within an immoral society? Have we committed the sin of silence?
