#221 WHEN SILENCE IS SINFUL

"Then they said one to another, We do not well: this is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace."(2 Kings 7:9) The city of Samaria had been besieged by the armies of Syria under Ben-hadad, and was suffering all the horrors of famine.  Women were boiling and eating their children and the most revolting garbage was worth its weight in silver.  Four starving lepers sat by the gate of the city.  Weighing their chances for survival, they determined to cast themselves upon the mercy of Syria, concluding that death by the sword was preferable to slow death by famine.  But when they reached the Syrian camp, they discovered that the enemy had fled, leaving everything behind.  And four starving men began to feast and satiate themselves until at last conscience jarred them awake to the greater responsibility of proclaiming the good news that God had accomplished the victory and the enemy had fled. 

One of the greatest sins among Christians today is that of silence.  It is the sin of withholding the life-giving message from men who are spiritually death.  If the shelves of our pantry were stocked with food and our neighbor was starving, we would not hesitate to share our bounty.  Yet multitudes of Christians who know the truth of the blessed gospel continue to withhold salvation's message from millions of men who live daily in sin.  Wherein is this done?  When is it sinful to be silent?  It is sinful to be silent about the love of God in sending his only begotten Son into the world.  Heaven's fullest expression of infinite grace is revealed in the fact that God so loved the world that he send his only begotten Son into the world, John 3:16.  Again it is written, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."(1 John 4:10) How could it be conceivable that children of God would be silent before a watching world about the fact of God's love?  Yet, sadly, such is so! 

It is sinful to be silent about the compassion of Christ in the offering of himself upon Calvary's slopes for the sins of the world.  Death by crucifixion was ignominious and ye the Son of God willingly suffered there.  Paul writes, "He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8) In light of such amazing grace, could any of God's children remains silent? 

It is sinful to be silent about the greatness of the gospel, the power of God to save.  The proclamation of the gospel among the lost nations was the final command of Christ to his disciples; the early Christians were urgent in preaching the word.  The apostle Paul declared, "I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation."(Romans 1:16) Would the lips of any true disciple even be sealed or his mouth dumb about the greatness of the gospel?

It is sinful to be silent about the glory of the church of Christ.  Paul wrote that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it in order that it might be "a glorious church."(Ephesians 5:25-27) It is in the church of Christ that God receives all glory and honor, Ephesians 3:21.  And again it should be remembered that all the saved from all nations are members only of the church of Christ, Acts 2:47 and Ephesians 5:26; 2:16.  In the face of such facts, no lover of God could move among men and fail to "preach good tidings concerning the kingdom of God..."(Acts 8:12) Those four Samaritan lepers broke out of the isolation to which their disease had condemned them and remembered the pitiful plight of their impoverished countrymen.  Convicted and ashamed, they dared not remain silent in a day of good tidings--and they did not! 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news that men will ever hear.  Shall we withhold it?  Dare we assume that responsibility in the light of the above Biblical teaching?  The proclamation of truth is not an option given to Christians!  The faithful Christian has not the right to choose to deny men the truth.  Truth must be taught and we must do it.  It is sinful to be silent.  "So they came ... and they told them."(2 Kings 7:10)