Just as there’s a time to defend what is right and a time to admit to being wrong, there’s a time to stand up for what’s true and a time to sit down and listen to the truth. Unfortunately however, far too many people stand up when they ought to remain seated, and very few are willing to step up to the plate when their voice is most needed.
Have you ever had a strong inclination to say something to someone whom you knew was in the wrong, but resisted the conviction to do so for fear that that person might become angry with you?
It is not at all uncommon for something like this to occur. In fact, it has happened to me before, and several times too nonetheless. I think every Christian has experienced this at some point. Of course, it’s not really a question of whether we have experienced it, but one of how long we will continue to let it happen. Will we turn the other cheek when we see that something isn’t right within the church and thereby pretend that a conviction to speak out against immorality isn’t there? Will we let fear get the upper-hand and keep us from carrying out God’s will?
We shouldn’t worry about how people might respond to us while following our convictions. It really doesn’t matter what they might think about us. We aren’t here to please them, but to serve God, and all that really matters then is that we do what God wants us to do. Hence we need to stop running away from doing what we know ought to be done and show the world what it means to be courageous for Jesus Christ!
The Sin of Omission
Many Christians attempt to look for every possible outlet to justify their lack of identifying the severity of sin. Thus they shun the opportunity to inform those who are living in sin that they are on a path that leads to destruction. It is actually quite tragic when you think about it, because this kind of behavior indicates that we have allowed our feelings to take precedence over the promptings of the Holy Spirit who encourages us to break the silence of the sin of omission.
Indeed, if we know that we ought to speak out against sin and injustice, but refuse to do so, then we are guilty of sin. You see, it’s not that we’ve sinned against God because we didn’t sound the moral trumpet at the sight of every sin that has been made known to us; rather, we are guilty of sin when we ignore the voice of God as He commands us to warn others of their sinful ways. For in keeping silent when we know that God is urging us to speak, we are essentially giving those who are all caught up in wrongdoing the impression that we support them in what they are doing in defiance against God’s commandments. Some might be inclined to think that it is an act of love to turn the other cheek on such matters, but in reality we are only proving that we lack love for them when we refuse to warn them of the danger that they are in for living in rebellion against God.
Correction isn’t Condemnation
Many people seem to think that it is a sin to call sin by its rightful name, or at least they give that impression anyway. They will even go so far as to use Jesus’ words as a means to justify this; they say, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1 NKJV) But what did Jesus really mean here? According to the Greek, the word for ‘judge’ is ‘krino’; it essentially denotes the idea of condemnation. Thus it has to do with ‘condemning’ or ‘sentencing’ a person for committing a crime. Moreover, the context in which Jesus used it has to do with eternal consequences. In other words, when a person judges another person in this way they are essentially attempting to make a ruling on the fate of that person that only God has the right to make.
Therefore, ‘krino’ is not to be confused with the words ‘rebuke’ or ‘admonish’, which essentially mean ‘to correct’. Yet people seem to believe that they are one and the same. But are you really condemning or sentencing a person to the lake of fire when you tell them that they need to repent? When you really think about it, even if we were to condemn such actions and beliefs as those that are contrary to what the Bible identifies as good works, that would only mean that we are condemning actions and beliefs, not actual people.
After all, we already know the fate of sin because the Bible makes it very clear that God will remove it from existence at some point (Isa. 2:4; Rev. 21:3-4). But we don’t know what will become of each individual in the Day of Judgment. For anyone could change at any point as long as there is opportunity to repent. Only God knows the heart. And frankly, I am certain that some will be shocked when they get to heaven and see that there are people there whom they were sure wouldn’t be there; likewise, many who think that they are going to heaven will end up in the lake of fire because they took it upon themselves to shun the will of God and condemn God’s children to hell for speaking out against their moral crimes. (Matt. 7:21-23)
Therefore, the idea that there is something wrong with calling sin by its rightful name is, in itself, wrong, because it is a blatant misrepresentation of what Jesus really said about not judging. You see, Jesus isn’t speaking to those who are in good standing with God and use His word as a means to discern both good and evil; He is speaking against those who think so highly of themselves that they would dare try to usurp the authority of God over others by speaking in His stead without His guidance. Hence Jesus is speaking against hypocrisy, and this can be seen very clearly in the following words:
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5 NKJV)
Note: this should be taken as a warning to those who condemn and speak out against people for doing things that they are also guilty of doing, but not as a warning against those who are walking according to God’s will while speaking against hypocrisy.
Moral Correction is a Sign of Love not a Symptom of Hatred
Listen, do you really love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Then prove it by warning them when you see that they are in error. Christianity is not a ‘whatever will be will be’ religion. It serves a definite purpose. And that is to glorify the one True Living God! If we aren’t doing this then we need to be corrected, and should welcome such admonition into our lives as something that is God breathed. For as members of the body of Christ we share a moral responsibility to look after each other in this way. This “do not judge” stuff is nothing more than an excuse to avoid answering to that responsibility.
And this is where the rubber meets the road so to speak: if we really love Jesus Christ we will share Him with others. Not merely by giving them a devotional thought to make them feel comfortable, but also by issuing a swift rebuke if need be. For those who are truly walking with Christ will live by and speak of the truths that they have learned from Him in the dark, and thus bring His message to light before others who need to hear it, even if that means they will have to put themselves in harms way for doing so.
We aren’t called to be comfortable, but to be the salt of the earth; and it’s time to get serious about God! We are standing on the knife’s edge of eternity; the Lord is coming soon; and we need to collectively sound the moral trumpet of warning from the rooftops! We need to stand up for Jesus Christ and show the world that our allegiance goes out to the Lamb of God who desires to take away the sin of the world. Thus we need to be the voice that cries out in the darkness and the hands that pull sinners out of the fire; we need to be the arms that embrace them and the feet that won’t stop moving until we have accomplished all that God has called us to do.
Therefore, break the silence of the sin of omission and warn others of the impending doom that is about to befall the whole world. Hold up the banner of Christ’s righteousness today and let everyone with whom you come into contact know that you not only take God seriously, but that you love them enough to warn them of the destructive fate that lies ahead of them if they don’t repent of their evil ways and return to God. For there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who refuse to heed the warning; yet inexpressible joy will be felt by all who receive Jesus Christ into their hearts by welcoming His warnings to them to turn away from their sins.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:19-22 NKJV)
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