[Editor’s note: Ordinarily, I do not publish sermons, but in this case, a request prompted it to be done. What follows is not a transcript, nor is it just the outline; it is an effort to put the message into essay form; some differences will likely exist. The original idea for this particular sermon was suggested by an outline that appeared in The Preacher’s Periodical about 25 years ago. The content and organization are far different from the original.]
Most Christians who are serious followers of Jesus would never entertain being guilty of the types of sins listed in passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. We know adultery, fornication, idolatry, theft, and being a drunkard are wrong. The church would withdraw fellowship from anyone persisting in such sins. But how often do certain types of behavior go unnoticed and uncondemned? Since brethren rarely say anything against them, they might be called “respectable” sins. One of these is the sin of silence.
One finds two aspects of this sin in the Scriptures. The first type of silence is that which is prompted by guilt or fear—from behavior which has no defense. It is not necessarily the silence that is sinful—but the sin that led to the silence. Consider some examples.
1. Adam and Eve, in order to forego having to answer any questions, hid themselves (unsuccessfully) in the garden (Gen. 3:8). They did so because they knew they had done wrong by violating God’s commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were fearful of the penalty of disobedience. They would not have to defend themselves, explain, or be held accountable for their actions if they could just hide. They were right in being fearful but wrong in dodging the issue.
2. In 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah tells the Israelites present at Mount Carmel to choose whom they were willing to serve—Jehovah or Baal. “But the people answered him not a word.” Why were the people so cowardly? Were they afraid of answering in King Ahab’s presence? Were they even more afraid of offending the queen? One thing is certain: They do not yet fear God nearly enough! Where is the boldness like that of Peter and John when they would later say, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29)? They failed to commit themselves because they did not want to wind up on the second-place team. Their silence means that they think they have everything to lose and nothing to gain.
3. In Matthew 22:12, a man invited to be a wedding guest was dressed inappropriately—without a wedding garment. Whether anyone said anything to him or not about his inappropriate apparel is not stated, but when the king saw him, he asked: “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” The man was “speechless” because he had no defense for his actions.
A preaching friend stated years ago that brethren do not justify immodest dress or mixed swimming; they just do it. He was disturbingly correct. Two articles on this subject were written last year and put on the website (see www.spiritualperspectives.org, articles, 2008, 8-10 and 8-17). The challenge has been giv-en for anyone who holds a different view to set forth a rationale that would authorize immodest dress or mixed swimming. To date, no one has attempted a reply.
Many who use instrumental music in worship often cannot give a coherent reason for its use—except “I like it.” In so saying they acknowledge that there is no defense of their use of it.
Likewise, if you ask certain prominent brethren today for their position on elder re-evaluation and reaffirmation, they become as silent as a clam with lockjaw. Who are they afraid of? Apparently, it is not God who is feared.
The same response is achieved when many are asked, “How it is that they can fellowship a false teacher?” Is the silence one prompted by guilt, fear, or just plain cowardice?
4. In Matthew 21:23-27 the chief priests and elders of the people asked Jesus by what authority He was doing the things He did? It was a fair question, but Jesus knew that they would try to turn the truth against Him; so He said He would answer their question upon the condition that they answered one of His. He asked where the baptism of John was from—Heaven or men? He had trapped them, and they knew it.
If they answered that John was authorized to baptize by Heaven’s authority, the next question Jesus would ask was: “Well, then, why didn’t you obey him, since God authorized his message?” If they answered that John baptized by his own authority, they feared that the crowd would turn against them since they regarded John as a prophet. Therefore, they chose—silence. They claimed (disingenuous-ly) that they did not know the answer. Is that the reason so many choose silence today—they fear they will be in trouble with someone no matter how they answer?
5. Jesus knew that many were watching Him to see if He would heal someone on the Sabbath day, so on one occasion, before doing anything He asked the question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” The question is not difficult to answer. “But they kept silent.” Why?
Perhaps they did not answer because Jesus would have proved to them that they were wrong. They would have had to reason with Him and explain their position. They were silent out of fear of being shown wrong (Mark 3:1-5). Frequently, people hold to a view based on emotion rather than logic. These people did not even try to defend their position, and Jesus “looked around at them with anger” (Mark 3:1-5).
The kind of silence examined thus far, then, is that which persists as a result of being unable to defend oneself due to guilt, fear, or being in the wrong.
Another Kind of Silence
A different kind of silence also springs from fear, and it involves refusing to say what ought to be said (James 4:17). The four lepers recognized that principle in 2 Kings 7:3-9. They realized that withholding good news of abundant food from those who were starving would be sinning. Is it possible that Christians are withholding “the good news,” (spiritual nutrition) from those who need to hear it?
1. What did Jesus command His disciples in Matt. 28: 18-20? He told them to go into all the world and make disciples of all, teaching them all the things that He had commanded them—which includes the very instructions He just gave them.
Yet some say such strange things as, “Oh, that command was only for the 11.” Is that the way the church understood it in the first century? When the persecution became intense in Jerusalem, was it not the members of the church that “went everywhere preaching the word,” while the apostles remained inJerusalem (Acts 8:1, 4)? They did not protest that it was only the work of the apostles to preach.
And what was Stephen doing preaching in Acts 7? He was not an apostle. What was Philip doing in Samaria in Acts 8? He was not an apostle. Why did Paul write in 2 Timothy 2:2 that “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit those to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”? Did they not understand that Jesus was only speaking to the 11? And why does Hebrews 5:12 admonish brethren that it was time for them to be teachers—not time for them to be fed with milk all over again? Christians absolutely can not be silent concerning the gospel and salvation.
2. Neither can we be silent on moral issues. A good example is imperative; Jesus talks about the necessity of His disciples being salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16), but model behavior must also be accompanied by words. Silence is not going to change sinners into saints. Many people do not know what the Scriptures teach about the sanctity of life (Luke 1: 41, 44; 2:12, 16). They certainly do not know that homosexuality is called a sin—one that is vile and against nature (Rom. 1:26). They will not pick that information up from Oprah or American Idol. Letterman is not yet giving lectures about how sinful adultery is. If Christians are silent about the moral issues of any age, who will stand up for righteousness?
3. Christians cannot remain silent concerning Truth and sound doctrine versus error. Only truth can sanctify Christians (John 17:17). Who is going to tell people that God never authorized denominationalism if we keep silent? How will people understand the flaws of premillennialism unless brethren show them? How will people resist the “hereditary total depravity” error of Calvinism unless we teach the truth about it? Who will explain the difference between baptism as taught in the Scriptures and that practiced by men today (with respect to the form and the meaning of it), if we do not?
Did Jesus revolutionize the world through example only and silence? Of course not, and neither did His followers. The world in the first century was not turned upside down by silence. We cannot be silent with respect to the word of God
The Sound of Silence The Sin of Silence
Paul Simon Gary W. Summers
Hello, darkness, my old friend; Hello, selfishness, my friend; I've come to talk with you again, I’ve come to talk to you again. Because a vision softly creeping Because the minister was preaching Left its seeds while I was sleeping, And said things while he was teaching, And the vision that was planted in my brain And the vision that he planted in my brain Still remains Still remains— Within the sound of silence. Disturbs my sin of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone, In worldly pleasures I did walk, Narrow streets of cobblestone, Actions of mine betrayed my talk. 'Neath the halo of a street lamp Accumulating things all for me, I turn my collar to the cold and damp I turned a deaf ear to those in need. When my eyes were stabbed But my heart was pierced
By the flash of a neon light By the love of Jesus Christ That split the night Who paid the price And touched the sound of silence. To loose my sin of silence.
And in the naked light I saw And by the Word of God I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more— Ten thousand brethren, maybe more-- People talking without speaking, Souls worshiping without thinking, People hearing without listening, Souls singing without meaning, People writing songs that voices never shared Preachers writing sermons that hearts No one dared Will never share, and no one dare Disturb the sound of silence. Accuse the sin of silence.
"Fools," said I, "You do not know “Wait,” said I, “This is not right. Silence like a cancer grows. Silence befits not the light. Hear my words that I might teach you; Saints are compelled to speak the Truth; Take my arms that I might reach you." From older members to the youth." But my words, like silent raindrops fell, But my words the people did refuse: And echoed in the wells “You can’t abuse
Of silence. My right of silence.”
And the people bowed and prayed And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made, To Mammon; they were unafraid. And the sign flashed out its warning Because it promised comfort here on earth In the words that it was forming, And so who cares about a second birth? And the sign said "The words of the prophets But the words, “You have been weighed
Are written on the subway walls And are wanting found,” And tenement halls To you are bound. And whispered in the sound of silence.” What good’s your sin of silence?
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But to the wicked God says: “These things you have done,
“What right have you to declare my statutes, And I kept silent;
Or take My covenant in your mouth, You thought that I was altogether like you;
Seeing you hate instruction But I will reprove you;
And cast My words behind you?” And set them in order before your eyes.”
(Psalm 50:16-17) (Psalm 50:21)
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