This past weekend I was at home in SC taking my 7 year old to spend a week with my mom and was at church with her on Sunday. Her Pastor spoke on Christians not speaking up for the truth in a spiritually and morally decaying society. He mentioned the phrase “silence speaks consent.” It caught my ear and I have been giving it some thought.
His application was within the broader realm of American society, but I think it fits just as well within the church — the visible church that is. Stepping back and taking a look at the overall visible church, I see where the silence of solid, Biblical teaching has spoken consent for whatever doctrine and Christian fad that seems to be “in” at the time. Word faith, kingdom now, seeker-sensitive, emergence, stale liturgy, decisionism and wacky revivalism have practically taken over the visible church.
Even where we can find good solid doctrine, it is often dead and sounds like it is coming from the reader’s digest instead of a living book of Scripture. I for one will speak up and stand up for the truth — all truth, not just a church creed or statement of faith.
3
Jul 08
Silence Speaks Consent
This past weekend I was at home in SC taking my 7 year old to spend a week with my mom and was at church with her on Sunday. Her Pastor spoke on Christians not speaking up for the truth in a spiritually and morally decaying society. He mentioned the phrase “silence speaks consent.” It caught my ear and I have been giving it some thought.
His application was within the broader realm of American society, but I think it fits just as well within the church — the visible church that is. Stepping back and taking a look at the overall visible church, I see where the silence of solid, Biblical teaching has spoken consent for whatever doctrine and Christian fad that seems to be “in” at the time. Word faith, kingdom now, seeker-sensitive, emergence, stale liturgy, decisionism and wacky revivalism have practically taken over the visible church.
Even where we can find good solid doctrine, it is often dead and sounds like it is coming from the reader’s digest instead of a living book of Scripture. I for one will speak up and stand up for the truth — all truth, not just a church creed or statement of faith.
My silence has spoken consent for long enough.