And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32
We are losing ground by being silent. It’s gotten to the point when someone mentions sin in public, there is typically sharp disagreement, intense debate, or accusations of hate and intolerance. Why? We just don’t hear much about sin anymore. A central part of the gospel message by which we are saved, many church leaders today talk less and less about sin and its consequences. Sadly, Christians have been following their example. Contrast today with believers in early American history when there was great concern about holiness and having a reverent fear of the Lord.
Moreover, the average Christian is not as equipped to defend the faith due to limited knowledge and understanding of Scripture as well as their desire to be accepted and to appear loving, tolerant, and non-judgmental. Jesus, Paul, and early church leaders were quite the opposite. We need to read and study our Bibles and be able to clearly explain the gospel. Parents, it is your responsibility to discipline and train your children in the ways of the Lord.
We also need to hear the whole truth preached in church on Sunday. If we want to build up the body of Christ, we can’t be worried about pleasing the world or offending liberal Christians. When pastors want to attract unbelievers to church and they use entertaining methods, the teaching of God’s Word including the hard truths of Scripture often take a back seat. Jesus used parables at times, but He did not tell jokes, funny stories, or entertaining analogies to make a point. He was all about repentance. We hear quite a lot about grace and love, as important as they are, but without balanced teachings on sin, and “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,” and on living “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-13),” many believers end up on the wrong side of the debate.
We must take another necessary step in order to ensure we are not being hypocritical: we must resist approving of certain sins regardless of their popularity. This is where some professing believers get themselves into a no-win situation. If for example, you support Planned Parenthood or criticize a young Christian woman who chose to give birth to a Down syndrome baby, you may want to pay close attention. The same holds true for Christians on today’s ‘gay is okay’ bandwagon who demand silent compliance from the rest of us. Others defend sin-glorifying prime time television programming and R-rated movies and say those who disapprove are too legalistic or rigid, that it’s just entertainment.
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15
Either we live by the entire Book or reject the whole truth therein. Unbelievers notice the moral and spiritual confusion when some Christians say certain things are sins, but other Christians turn around and defend those sins. When confronted about this by a godly, mature believer, some Christians may become defensive, perhaps not fully understanding why. They have an inner contradiction, knowing for example, homosexuality is wrong according to the Bible, but wanting to defend gay marriage or gay friends publicly.
Homosexuality is not the only sin that has gained acceptance. Adultery, abortion, coveting, divorce, idolatry, pride, and pornography – to name a few – also need to be part of the discussion. However, due to media marketing and an open disregard for God, homosexuals and their enablers seem to be the ones that are driving public opinion in America. Look at our schools, media, Hollywood, government, the workplace, our courts, and yes, look at our churches.
Christians are not being divisive when addressing sin, and homosexual activists are not being divisive by pushing their agenda. Jesus Christ is the One who said He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). If you think we’re being divisive by addressing sin, take it up with Him. Doctrine divides, and the immutable Word of God is the line drawn in the proverbial sand just as God separated the waters from the dry land in creation (Psalm 104:9).
The subject of marriage is perhaps one of the most divisive in modern times due to the assault on the family and biblical truth. The union of one man and one woman is by God’s design, it is not man’s idea.
PHIL ROBERTSON DOESN’T DUCK
Who can forget the eruption on both sides of this issue when in a December 2013 GQ interview; Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson said the primary problem with mankind is sin. If you read the full interview, it is clear Phil Robertson is anti-sin, not anti-gay, and says we should love one another. But that’s not how the media framed it. Let’s look at part of that extensive interview to provide some context. The following comes after GQ writer, Drew Magary’s lengthy introduction to his visit with the Robertson’s:
…“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around…
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”
[Magary] “What, in your mind, is sinful?”
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman, and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
“…It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
Though most of us would not have put it that way, I agree with Robertson’s overall point about all sin. But out of thousands of words in that interview, it was the graphic mention of homosexuality that got activists and bullies riled up. Due in part to the popularity of top rated Duck Dynasty on the A&E network, the issue was breaking news at the time. But why? It is not as if most people don’t know or had never heard the Bible teaches that homosexuality is sinful behavior.
But American Christianity has been ducking the issue of sin for decades.
So today, when a Christian has the audacity to refer to sin in public, many react with hyper-sensitivity. Due to years of perverse programming and progressive propaganda, people hit the ceiling if you mention homosexuality and sin, let alone the word ‘abomination.’ We can talk about any other sin, but we better leave gays out of it. Who knows whether the whole controversy was a set-up by A&E in order to get some fantastic promotion for the network, but after first suspending Phil Robertson from future episodes – which lasted a few days – they lifted the suspension following public backlash.
During the brief suspension, the Robertson’s released this statement:
“The family is excited to keep making a quality TV show for our dedicated fans, who have shown us wonderful support. We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through Duck Dynasty and our many projects that we are currently working on. The outpouring of support and prayer has encouraged and emboldened us greatly.”
I submit to you we now have a clear divide in America. Religious liberty and sodomy cannot coexist peacefully. There is too much at stake.
In one corner of the battle are those that believe in the Bible as well as America’s founding principles of Christianity; in the other corner are those who not only oppose us, but claim they are offended (threatened) by the presence of practicing Christians. The latter minority has the loudest voices and the support of Hollywood, the mainstream media, academia, and government. Because of this ungodly alliance, we sometimes think conservatives and people of faith are overwhelmingly outnumbered.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Less than 4 % of the U.S. population is LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender), and in a recent census of American citizens, less than 1% of the population consisted of verifiable same-sex couples.
There are no organizations proudly and publicly fighting for special rights, preferential treatment, and working to change laws on behalf of adulterers, pornographers, liars, gamblers, murderers, thieves… you get the idea. No conflict is more pivotal to the heart and soul of America than the sin battle.
Bryan Fischer, director of issues analysis for the American Family Association believes, “if the forces of sexual deviancy prevail, every part of our culture will be corrupted and contaminated beyond repair,” and suggests America would fall into a moral abyss of darkness. Fischer stated:
“Religious principle, tolerance and rights of conscience mean nothing to pro-sodomy advocates. They will remorselessly crush anyone and anything that gets in their path… In their quest for cultural domination, they will relentlessly extinguish the light of sexual normalcy and morality, as well as the light of Christianity.”
In the Duck Dynasty controversy, we witnessed the political and public pressure by homosexual activists such as GLAAD (Gay and Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation) and the Human Rights Campaign to not only force suspension of family patriarch Phil Robertson, but also insist he undergo sensitivity training and tolerance education. Get this:
“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said in a statement. “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans – and Americans – who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.”
The popularity of homosexuality has increased dramatically and good marketing is part of the reason. Just because the general public has accepted unhealthy, sugary soda drinks loaded with high fructose corn syrup and additives doesn’t mean they are good for us.
Often ignored when discussing Robertson’s interview is the fact he also referred to many other sins. We all sin and every one of us needs forgiveness. To Robertson and to most Christians, sin is sin no matter who you are. Here is the Bible passage Robertson paraphrased, in context:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Let’s glean an important truth from this passage of Scripture: verse eleven refers to Christians as sinners in the past tense. (“Such were some of you”) If we believe, the blood of Jesus Christ cleansed us from the filthy rags of our sins and we were justified before a holy God. It is done. It doesn’t matter what your sin is; it does matter who your Savior is.
For talking about this in a public interview, Phil Robertson gets viciously attacked. The LGBT community claims their activism is all about love and equality, but if you don’t agree with them or approve of their lifestyle, they often resort to hateful attacks attempting to discredit and marginalize Christians. They often go so far as refusing to permit speech that opposes homosexuality. Some consider this bullying, others call it totalitarian intolerance.
If we hate them, we’ll say nothing and let them spend eternity in Hell after they die. If we love them, we’ll tell them the truth about God’s love for them and for all sinners. If we believe the Bible is true and Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12), but fail to warn others about the consequences of sin, we don’t really care about them. The way Christians demonstrate their love for non-believers is not only by serving them, but by lovingly encouraging them to repent and receive God’s free gift of salvation.
If someone refuses to accept the truth that what they’re doing is a sin, they should take it up with Jesus. Don’t try to squelch our speech including the message of reconciliation which is not only protected by the Constitution, but commanded by God. We answer to a much higher Court.
Responding to the haters, Phil Robertson offered these words in a Press release:
“I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior,” he said. “My mission today is to go forth and tell people why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”
One major issue at stake here is the First Amendment: Do all Americans, including Christian conservatives, still have legal speech protections or not? I purposely mention “conservatives” because there are many liberal Christians who fail to accept the Bible’s authority. Some of these folks don’t think we should speak openly about our faith or quote certain Scriptures. In essence, they are the ‘live and let live’ crowd brainwashed into tolerating all things under the false premise of coexisting with unrepentant sinners.
The early church all the way up to 19th century evangelists and preachers had the exact opposite worldview and would never justify indifference. Because of the infiltration of liberals and the progressive church movement, we now have blatant apostasy. Three of the following descriptions may help explain the direction of the church: the first two apply to pastors and leaders while the third is what we see among religious folks across the nation.
First, there are many false teachers in the church today. Some have slipped in unnoticed while others are publicly preaching heresy. They question absolute truth, promote ambiguity when it comes to the Bible, and justify sins that would have flipped the early church upside down. Some religious leaders are not even saved and aim to discredit God’s Word. This is what I refer to as counterfeit Christianity.
Second, even in many good churches sound doctrine has generally been watered down causing Christians to go hungry rather than be well fed with the Word of God. The message of the gospel has been replaced with topical teaching and sermons that sound more like contemporary seminars than the deep things of God such as sanctification, holiness, God’s judgment and the end times. Some believers are so used to the fluff; they are surprised or offended when we talk about sin. This is cotton candy Christianity.
You might hear a pastor talk about being positive or raising a healthy family and he may throw in a few Scripture references to support his theme for the week. Some say this is more appropriate for a Wednesday night church meeting or a lecture at a Holiday Inn than a sermon on Sunday morning.
And third, as a result of decades of weaker biblical teachings; too many religious folks and professing Christians are attracted to certain churches, pastors, and paraphrased Scriptures. They are typically not interested in Bible study, apologetics, prophecy, the Old Testament, and sola Scriptura (the sufficiency of Scripture). They love verses about love, but they don’t like verses relating to holy living, righteousness, the law, or being lukewarm. They pick what they like from the Bible and they avoid the things they do not like to hear. This is cafeteria Christianity.
Parents, it is not your pastor or church’s fault if your kids are rebelling or acting like their unsaved friends; they must be taught the Bible at home. I realize much of this is directed at Christian leaders, but we will individually answer to God for what we did with all He gave us. Back to Phil Robertson and the TV show.
Did you know originally, A&E’s plan and intent for Duck Dynasty was for viewers to tune in and watch in order to laugh at and mock a family of ‘backwards’ Christian rednecks? Instead, due to the likeability of the Robertson’s and the family values they promote, the show became the most popular cable program in history averaging 14.6 million viewers at its peak. Ironically, the very plan that backfired ended up making them millions. A&E knew what they were getting with the Robertson’s and that includes Phil.
Sadly today in culture, evil is considered good and good is considered evil (Isaiah 5:20), and activists will no longer tolerate those who say their behavior is sinful. Some believe we’ve reached a tipping point. This present darkness is not about Duck Dynasty, A&E, the Robertson’s, or Hollywood. It’s not even political, it is spiritual and the battle will only intensify. We can take up our positions or hide [our light] under a table.
Author and radio talk show host, Michael Brown, suggests those of us who agree with Phil Robertson should make it clear that:
“1) We are unashamed of our belief in Jesus and in biblical morality.
2) We stand against the mistreatment of all people, including gays and lesbians.
3) We will not support the radical redefinition of marriage, regardless of the cost involved, nor do we see cultural capitulation to gay activism as inevitable.”
God and His Word do not change. There never would have been a debate 50 years ago over redefining marriage or sin. Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), what changed? Christians gradually became silent and inconsequential in our culture. As a result, we’ve reached the point where activists are forcing conformity and calling it tolerance. This may be good for a comfortable Christian church, causing us to wake up.
The problem has been diagnosed: believers are either not getting the message at church, they are not building their own foundation of faith, or they are unwilling to be God’s messengers in public. Perhaps it is a combination of these. When Christians fail to speak truth about the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the issue of sin; our society grows worse. Regardless, the battle will become more volatile leaving us with two options: fight or retreat.
Understandably, this will present an even tougher challenge especially for committed Christian pastors and teachers willing to preach the whole counsel of God and call people to repentance. Church leaders, please remain strong and resist the temptation to conform to the worldly pressures of a hyper-tolerant culture where sin is the new f-word.
A godless government is also stoking the fire. Since President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, churches have been vandalized by homosexual activists and some pastors have had their lives threatened. The Bible teaches us to love our enemies and pray for them. Please remember not all gays are radicals, but the activists have in fact been emboldened by the Obama administration.
I realize this can be confusing when over 50 million Americans profess to be Christians. Do not be ignorant about the damaging effect of our politics. Too many people continue to vote along party lines, ignoring what the Bible teaches, and we continue electing candidates who do not represent the values of most citizens, let alone biblical values! We get what we vote for and we reap nationally what we have sown politically.
Though we care enough to share our hope in Jesus Christ, we don’t want to force our faith on people, and most of us strive for fairness and respect toward those who disagree with us. Pastor and evangelist, Greg Laurie of Harvest ministries weighed in and said Christians believe in God who created the world and all its creatures, and He has provided a godly design for marriage and sex. Laurie said what is being demanded of Christians goes beyond tolerance to acceptance of and endorsement of sin, and “it would be nice if love and tolerance were a two-way street.”
CAN WE LOVE SINNERS BY OUR SILENCE?
We’re all in the same boat when it comes to our sin nature. God has the highest of standards for believers and though He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, He promises to complete the good work He started in us when we first placed our trust in Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). He also expects us to become mature in our faith by learning Scripture, producing fruit, and growing in Christ. When this happens, we are more effective witnesses for the Lord. As a result, others are influenced toward godliness and culture improves.
Many conservative Christian leaders believe a nation’s righteousness and morality can be measured by how its people treat the unborn. How many ways can we reinterpret God’s law warning us not to murder? Abortion continues to be what many consider a necessary evil in our promiscuous, over-sexed society. The Left cleverly redefined the terms and reframed the argument so now it’s supposedly about choice, freedom, reproductive rights, and privacy. Hogwash! Abortion stops a beating heart and eliminates innocent life: it is murder and a sin.
Why do some of us duck these issues? As Christians, we often struggle with many of the same sins the world struggles with, but perhaps with less frequency. Since the world teaches immediate self-gratification, to live for the moment, do whatever you feel like doing, and fulfill every crazy sexual desire, the church had better be preaching the opposite and teaching discipline, godliness, obedience, and self-control.
Christians are not immune from sin leading to addictions so we need to do a better job of preparing, training, and warning God’s people about sin and its consequences. It may start with a little harmless pornography which leads to fornication or adultery which could lead to pregnancy and then, abortion. A sexually transmitted disease could result. If the sinners are married adults, divorce could be another result. We reap what we sow.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8
Sin destroys everything in its path if it is not addressed and dealt with accordingly. Otherwise, it’s easy to find ways to justify lust, pornography, or sexual activity to name a few. After all, “what’s wrong with two people expressing their love for each other?” How could God possibly be against that? With this kind of moral relativistic reasoning, why not add a third, fourth, and fifth person expressing their lust, I mean – love for others?
If the meaning of ‘demonstrating your love’ is to have sex, then why not make it an orgy? Where does it then stop? How about throwing in young children or adding a few animals next time. See where this ludicrous thinking is heading if the church and culture continue down the present path of least resistance? Forgive me for using such graphic, disgusting and reprehensible analogies. I believe it’s time we clarify biblical love and also openly discuss solutions to the epidemic of sin we’re seeing today.
In an address to pastors and church leaders at Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, the Reverend Dr. Laurence White said while America is led down a path of destruction, the church has been silent and afraid. He called on leaders to “take a stand in this moment of crisis,” and have a sense of urgency. White continued:
“To compare what is happening in America today to Nazi Germany is no mere flight of rhetorical exaggeration… Look around you and read the signs of the times. Look beyond the walls of our beautiful sanctuaries, and the comfort of our padded pews to see the chaos, the corruption, and the confusion that reigns throughout our culture.
We live in a society where passions are rider-less horses, uncontrolled and uncontrollable, in which there is a desolation of decency; in which love has become a jungle emotion, lust exalted to lordship, sin elevated to sovereignty, Satan adored as a saint, and man magnified above his maker. In the face of this relentless onslaught of evil, the church of Jesus Christ has grown timid and afraid.
We, as Christian pastors, seem to have forgotten that God did not call us to be popular or successful, God called us to be faithful. Faithful preaching never comes in the form of safely vague, pious platitudes. Faithful preaching must identify and denounce the false gods of this world that call upon our people to bow down before them every day. God did not call us to be successful CEOs, protecting institutional peace and tranquility, bringing in the bodies and the bucks by avoiding controversy, and telling everybody what they wanted to hear.
We cannot blame the liberal media, or the corrupt politicians, or the apathetic public for that which has overtaken America. Our political leaders deal in trivialities and superficial nonsense, practicing the feel-good politics of deliberate ambiguity, while the destruction of our families, the perversion of our most basic moral principles, and the murder of innocent, unborn children goes on, and on, and on.
The issue before us as Christians and as Christian pastors is faithfulness to the Word of God, and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. To speak to the great moral issues of our day is an integral and essential part of that God-given responsibility. To fail to do so is nothing less than a denial of the Lordship of Jesus.”
The church must get back to influencing society for God, but in order to do this we must get back to living for God ourselves. This starts with honest, self-evaluation and perhaps for many of us, repentance; and then a decision to recommit to the cause of Jesus Christ. Again, pastors are not to blame if we remain lukewarm!
We should encourage pastors and ministers because being a church leader is not easy work and I don’t want to give the impression I would do a better job. I respect anyone who had enough courage to follow God’s lead into ministry and more importantly, I respect anyone who has the heart and boldness to preach the whole counsel of God in its undiluted power and truth.
I love humble men and women of God who lead their flocks, tirelessly serving our King without apology or compromise, and it is to you I write these next few thoughts. If you went on vacation, how do you think your congregation would respond to this question: ‘Is your pastor speaking up about sin, immorality and the major issues in our culture?’ Or how about if they were asked, ‘Does your pastor proclaim the truth from Scripture and address the most controversial and pivotal problems in America today including political and social issues?’ If they’d answer yes, my hat is off to you! Keep fighting the good fight of faith.
You are not alone. Throughout history, well known men of God as well as nameless and courageous men have made the difficult decision, the right one, to seek Jesus Christ first and speak in His name. These great people of faith understood following Jesus and preaching the Word could come at a cost. There is always a cost to following and obeying Jesus; but the rewards are unimaginable.
SET APART MEANS SET APART
We established in the previous chapter the fact judgment begins with Christians in the house of God. Though we are to expose darkness and sin, we are not to expect unbelievers to live according to a Book and a God they don’t believe in. Let’s start with ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging one another to bear good fruit.
Though unbelievers accept abortion and approve of killing thousands of babies every day, Christians should stand for life. Though unbelievers are fine with pornography and sleeping around, Christians should never be fine with the same. Though the world loves money and materialism, we must love God alone as we cannot serve both. Though the world approves of and enjoys profanity, perversity, and anti-Christian entertainment including most of what is on television, believers are better off avoiding the soul pollution.
Even though Christian morals and values have been long removed from government schools, believers must never stop displaying godly principles. Though the Bible has been kicked out of academia and the teaching of atheism, humanism, and evolution are allowed, Christians must not allow our children to be indoctrinated by a godless education system.
Though secular rap and rock music dominates the airways and schools in America, Christian kids must resist any and all music that legitimizes promiscuity, sex, abortion, drugs, satanic worship, the love of money, violence, rape, murder, and the disrespect of parents and authority. (Mom and Dad, chances are your kids won’t do this without your help.)
Be set apart, yes, but please do not duck the issue of sin! It is true we are seeing increased discrimination against Christians and church leaders in America as well as growing persecution around the world. This may be just what the people of God need in order to wake up and turn back to God. Father in Heaven, please forgive us, restore us again and send revival to your church in America!
In closing, here’s another challenging and thought-provoking quote from the great conservative Christian pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer about the cost of our silence:
“We the church must confess that we have not proclaimed often or clearly enough the message of the One God who has revealed Himself for all time in Christ Jesus, and who will tolerate no other gods beside Himself. She must confess her timidity, her cowardice, her evasiveness and her dangerous concessions. She was silent when she should have cried out because the blood of the innocent was crying aloud to heaven. The church must confess that she has witnessed the lawless application of brutal force, the physical and spiritual suffering of countless innocent people, oppression, hatred, and murder.
“And that she has not raised her voice on behalf of the victims. And has not found way to hasten to their aid. The church is guilty of the deaths of the weakest and most defenseless brothers of Jesus Christ. The church must confess that she has desired security and peace, quiet, possession, and honor to which she has no right. She has not born witness to the truth of God and by her silence, she has rendered herself guilty, because of her unwillingness to suffer for what she knows to be right.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1940
We cannot keep ducking the issue of sin and expect the church and our country to change for the better. We cannot justify the path of least resistance or worse, the approval of sin any longer. Many lives are at stake. If we want to obey the Lord’s instructions and make the biggest impact, there is only one choice: we must speak up – even if laws are passed suggesting we stay silent.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.2 Corinthians 5:20
(The Cost of Our Silence, Chapter 4, Ducking the Issue of Sin, book excerpt)
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