The Time for Silence is Over Church
Church, we need a timeout. It’s time for a team huddle. Listen, our biggest problem is not a global pandemic or racial reconciliation, or economic collapse. And believe it or not, our biggest problem is not the corruption of politics, even though recent events have caused me to spend some extra time on the treadmill trying to run off my anxiety.
Our biggest problem is this: persistent spiritual apnea.
How did we become a nation no longer interested in God? A country with so many mixed-up priorities? A land that upholds evil and condemns righteousness.
Like Israel, “Our courts oppose the righteous, and justice is nowhere to be found. Truth stumbles in the streets, and honesty has been outlawed. Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked” (Is. 59:14-15; NLT).
And I wonder, like Israel, if the Lord might say to us today: “This has happened because my people have abandoned my instructions: they have refused to obey what I said. Instead, they have stubbornly followed their own desires” (Jer. 9:13-14; NLT).
For our sins testify against us, “and we know our iniquities: transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning back from following our God” (Is. 59:13).
We boast of our wealth and accomplishments. We boast in our meager understanding. We stand up for causes we deem worthy, but how much do we stand for God? How much credit do we give to Him?
“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them…then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God” (Deut. 8:12-14).
Change Will Not Happen Without Jesus
What does the world see when they glance at the church today? Do they see a people zealous for the works of God (Titus 2:14)? Do they see individuals proclaiming the excellencies of Christ (1 Peter 2:9)? Are we excited to worship the God we claim?
I wonder, do they see a people who trust the Lord, or a group of individuals who are just as fearful as everyone else? Is there anything different about us? Do our hope and joy make us stand out? Do the lost look at us and think, “Wow, they know whom they have believed in.”
If we don’t fear God, neither will they. If biblical truth is not our top priority, how can we expect those who don’t even know God to prioritize truth? How important is God’s Word to God’s people? It’s sad how many professing Christians don’t even open their Bibles apart from a Sunday morning sermon.
Our nation is moving in a concerning direction, but I don’t think we can pass off all the blame. Real reform is spiritual. We won’t affect lasting change apart from God. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6). If we approach change without any thought to Jesus, then we might as well be hitting our heads against a brick wall.
But how will they know if we don’t tell them? How can we expect the world to turn to Christ if we don’t start sharing the gospel?
The Time for Silence is Over
Our lackluster approach to evangelism hasn’t done us any favors. We just expect everyone else to do it. It’s too scary, we say. What if they ask us a question we don’t know? Then tell them you don’t know. I promise the alternative to not sharing the gospel is scarier. Just turn on the news, and you’ll see.
A world without God is a world full of evil. And a world full of Christians who live apart from God is simply a world full of people who are powerless to do anything about it. What’s unfolding right in front of our eyes is the catastrophic result of humanity entirely eclipsed by the devil’s schemes.
And this is how it happened: the church went silent. We counted the cost as too high. We wanted the world to like us. We decided we cared more about our reputation than God’s. Besides, we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Perhaps the reason we aren’t seeing the power of God surge through God’s people today is that we aren’t living by the power of the Holy Spirit. We aren’t willing to risk our reputation to speak up and out for God’s kingdom. It’s just easier not to rock the boat.
But what if we made ourselves a vessel in the hands of the living God? What if we prayed, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit,” and we meant it? The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us (Rom. 8:11). We have no reason to be afraid and every reason to speak out.
Friends, change in society will occur when God’s people come alive.
It’s Time to Live Like the People of God
As believers, we owe everything to God. We once were dead in our transgressions and sins and destined for hell, but God, who is rich in mercy and grace, chose to save us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Our salvation is His doing. Our hope and joy and peace and eternal future result from His everlasting love.
It’s not a fable—it’s a fact.
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18).
I didn’t write that verse; God did. So, what should we do?
Pray, church. Confess your lack of enthusiasm toward the Lord. Cast aside your idolatry and pick up the Word of God. Seek to build God’s kingdom instead of your own.
Share the gospel! What do we have to lose? This world? Fine. We have far more to gain in Christ Jesus than this world offers us anyway. Do yourself a favor and choose God. Choose Him every single day. Show your kids that God is more important and that His ways matter.
Set your mind on Christ. Let the world see your love for the one and only God. Dance in the streets if you have to. Show them God is real, and God’s love is genuine. Tell them about grace and forgiveness and how they can receive it.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away” (Eph. 3:5-7).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Eph. 3:16). “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Eph. 3:17).
Let these dry bones come alive!
That’s what we do. We remember God. We get on our knees and worship Him. We get serious about our faith, and we live out the truth. We stop telling God what we think He should do and start believing He already knows what to do.
We believe the promises and fear His great name. We follow Jesus wherever He leads. And then, we do it again tomorrow.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14
