The Churches Must Speak Out ; Churches have remained publicly quiet for decades on the moral issues of the day so as not to appear too controversial or too political. As a result, public debate is often left to those without a biblical worldview. The consequences of this passivity have contributed to the unraveling of American civil society. It is way past time to end the silence.
The Progressive Elites talk endlessly about “democracy,” but their intention is typically a ruse to implement a top-down liberal agenda. They allow normalizing pedophilia, trafficking children for sex, sexually grooming kids, encouraging transgender surgery for minors, and promoting unlimited abortion and gay marriage. These actions are all against God’s purpose, as the Bible instructs us. While a few individuals and churches may be speaking out about these issues, their numbers need to grow to have any effect.
Churches are comfortable with business as usual at a time when we need to lean on God. People realize that things are not the same as they were just a few years ago, and they are looking for the Church to guide them, and many churches are silently playing it safe on these core moral problems in our country today. If the Christian community remains silent because we fear the repercussions of speaking out, are we living out our faith? Are we trusting in God?
In his compelling book, Letter to the American Church, Eric Metaxas notes the frightening similarities between the contemporary American Church and the German Church of the 1930s. Of course, the German Church could not have imagined what was coming in the years ahead. Who would have imagined the Holocaust could have happened in an enlightened and advanced Western nation like theirs? Yet we in America today know what transpired and have no excuse if we fail to see the parallel warnings delivered by Dietrich Bonhoeffer to his fellow citizens.
As hard as it may be, all of us who claim the name of Christ need to speak courageously against the evils afflicting our culture, something most pastors of Nazi Germany failed to do. Metaxas encourages American Christians to speak out before it is too late and echoes Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s prophetic call, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak, and not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.”
As a church leader, Bonhoeffer did not remain silent and paid for it with his life. We pray that level of persecution does not come to America. Today, mainstream news is filled with political distortions that malign our inalienable rights to freedom of religion and speech. Metaxas disavows the notion that fighting moral corruption politicizes Christianity. As Bonhoeffer and others have insisted, the Church plays a crucial role in shaping the ethical culture of a nation and must be a beacon of light in the surrounding darkness. The Christian community must be heard publicly now more than ever.
Many in the United States assume something like the Holocaust could never happen here because our human nature is above all that. Well, think again. Throughout history, human nature has remained the same no matter where you live. Would your moral foundation enable you to give up your job, wealth, family, and life to oppose evil? Or would you succumb to silence by the immediate need for self-preservation?
Of course, the central thrust of the Church is sharing the Gospel message of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. However, our work continues beyond this message. The Book of James stresses that faith without works is dead. The American Church should follow Bonhoeffer’s example by declaring what is right and wrong in the public square.
However, the American Church is not given a collective voice. The Church has individual voices from the pastor and from individual members in the church. Pastors should urge Believers to speak to all in their circles of influence concerning Biblical issues.
Regrettably, fear of losing congregants, donations, and tax-exempt status are often more pressing concerns for churches than speaking out publicly on moral issues. Yet silence is an option we can no longer afford. God calls us to do more. Assured that this is the Lord’s battle, we must overcome our apprehension and enter the fight armed with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Progressive Elites don’t understand religious liberty because they lead their lives surrounded by their professions, personal interests, and like-minded neighbors and peers. Their concerns are centered more around power, influence, and wealth. They see religiosity as an uncouth obstacle to their entitlements, gender reassignments, and abortions. They malign faithful Christians as “Christian Nationalists” to neutralize their public views. What they do not realize is God calls all nations to honor Him.
While the Christians celebrate America’s founding virtues, the Left is destroying a culture founded on Biblical values. They are tearing apart those bonds by indoctrinating and brainwashing our young in schools and universities, rewriting history, blurring biological distinctions, weaponizing governmental agencies, destroying families and cities, and suppressing free speech. Regardless of the character of civil leaders, the Church and its people must honor God by engaging in discussions to guide them on how laws should follow moral principles.
If the last few years do not wake up the Body of Christ, what will? The Church was founded in this land to speak and worship freely and risked everything to do so. They spoke about values, and they talked about right and wrong. This resoluteness is what is missing today. If pastors had a fear of God over the fear of man, we would not have passive churches. People are looking for leadership. Far too many churches have become complacent, and the country has strayed far from its founding values.
America was established on the capacity for people to reason, speak and associate freely. We, the People, have the right to elect and remove government officials in a Constitutional process. The Left takes full advantage of these freedoms, and so should we. We are summoned to engage in the public debate vigorously. The Church and its people must stand up and take fully use those rights before it is too late.
John Quincy Adams once said, “Duty is ours, results are God’s.” Get involved in your community, encourage people to vote, and speak the truth against falsehoods. If you believe in a Creator who endows us with certain inalienable rights, including freedom of speech, now is the time to be heard. We are called for a time such as this.
Jeff Lukens is a West Point graduate, U.S. Army veteran, and conservative activist. He can be reached at jplukens@hotmail.com
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
Parler: https://parler.com/AFNNUSA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA
Jeff, outstanding and timely message…
I will share this with my pastor & brethren 🙏🇺🇸
We are almost at the level of persecution that Bonhoeffer faced. It is only a matter of time when someone made infamous by the corporate leftist media, and made to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
We, who respect authority, tend to misunderstand what is going on around us, and continue blindly to accept how people are persecuted, and do nothing, unless you call politicians campaigning off the backs of martyrs, which is about all the jailed January 6 defendants are. What is our duty? Speak out against their treatment? Has that been effective? It seems the more we speak out, the more they get mistreated, and then, when the power shifts to us, but just so slightly, we see squabbling over refreshing our politicians’ ideology? Do those who are jailed have to be martyrs?
This is just one example of people not coming to the aid of those unjustly accused. We see new examples daily.
Is it right and just to sit back and allow people being punished by tyrants?
It may not seem to be the same, but it was the same thing that was fought against, in the American Revolution, against a king and his tyranny. Priests and ministers joined in that fight, alongside patriots.
What is so different between then and now, that many priests and ministers are more concerned with going along just to get along?
Compromising of beliefs is what got us here. Compromise is never good. Duty doesn’t end with mere words.
I’m glad you told about Bonhoeffer because outside these sites, very few ever heard of him. His example should be known to all who don’t understand what is happening to the world. He did his duty. Should we only speak? How does that reconcile with all the blood our forefathers spilled, in the name of our freedom?
Instead of preaching the Gospel, many churches exist only to compromise their beliefs to keep the pews filled, by making their churches compatible with heresy and abomination. That tells me that what CS Lewis said about men with chests is lacking in today’s churches, both leaders and followers.
Amen and amen. Seems there are people spreading this message finally.
https://creativedestructionmedia.com/opinion/2022/10/16/a-letter-to-americas-pastors/
Amen and amen. Seems there are people spreading this message finally.
creativedestructionmedia.com/opinion/2022/10/16/a-letter-to-americas-pastors/
Most excellent article, sir. I have been begging ministers for years to preach sermons pertinent to the real, wicked world of today. We already know about Paul on the road to Damascus, the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, etc. I emphasize that we are in a battle for our very culture & our beliefs & we’d better darn well recognize that war & fight back or the church here will become as the church in Europe, dead and useless.
Mr. Berwind is as usual, spot on in his comments.
If these waffles in the pulpits only had the courage of ministers in the time of our revolution against Great Britain, what a difference it would make in our country.