The last three weeks, we have seen how easily we can commit sins of silence by not praising our Lord and others, by not praying to our Lord and interceding for others, and by not proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This last sin of silence deals exclusively with our interaction with our fellow man. It can be part of not proclaiming the Gospel. It might be the most painful of the four to carry out and yet is extremely necessary and beneficial. We will look at this in more depth tonight at prayer meeting. It can be illustrated by a doctor who, after examining one of his patients, discovers that this patient has an aggressive form of cancer. What would you think of this doctor if he did not tell this terrible news to his patient but instead decided to keep quiet about it because he did not want to be the bearer of bad news and discourage the patient? You would correctly say that this doctor should be removed from his medical practice.
As those who know the Lord, His law, and the destructive nature of sin, we cannot afford the luxury of saying only “nice” things to others and not pointing out sin. Here is what God commands Isaiah: Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1) The trumpet is one of the loudest instruments and is able to give an intense, high pitched, clear call. It has been used in the military over the years. It characterizes how we should speak about sin.
I previously shared from Ezekiel 3:16-19 where God instructs Ezekiel to be a watchman. If he does not give the warning, the blood of the wicked will be on his hands. Just today in my Bible reading, I read Ezekiel 33:1-11 which repeats and expounds on the section in chapter 3. God instructed Ezekiel Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Jesus startled the woman at the well in John 4 by revealing her sin. Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” (John 4:16-18) Yes, we must not give into the ‘political correctness’ of making sin acceptable.
This need to identify sin should be done not only for the unbeliever but for the believer. We are to exhort one another daily and to be iron sharpening iron (which makes sparks fly!). In Galatians 2:11-21,Paul confronted Peter about his hypocrisy. May God give us grace to speak the truth in love and point others to the Good News of His Word!