Silence is Not Always Golden
by Harry Osborne
August 15, 2010

Have you ever noticed how politicians answer questions? Very few give a straight answer. One of their tricks is to talk around a subject for a while, but when they are done, they have said nothing. Another trick is to answer a question with the equivalent of pleading the Fifth Amendment, with a "no comment" in response. If that does not work, the old "I'm referring that to a committee for study" dodge will do the trick. Not much comes out of those committees, you know.

Why would someone try to shun an answer and keep a matter shrouded in silence? Why would one not want it to be known where he stands on a question? The most common reason is the fear of opposition from those who may not agree with the stated view. The safe road to avoid taking a stand is to stay quiet or issue a disclaimer to signal neutrality.
In Bible times, there were those who refused to take a stand for God and His truth. They were always condemned for such cowardice. It was the people of courage who dared to stand against the views of those in places of power who God approved.

Elijah was a man who stood in opposition to the wicked ways of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had introduced the idolatry of Baal to Israel with all of its associated evils. Elijah stood against that system and urged others to oppose it as well. When Ahab came face to face with Elijah, the king's first words were these: "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah replied, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed Baal" (1 Kings 18:18). When all of the people were gathered, they had a clear choice. Who would they believe and follow? Their king who had the power over them or Elijah who spoke an unpopular message of truth in opposition to the king? The Bible records the occasion in these words:

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” But the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:21).

It was a fifth amendment crowd who feared the king more than they loved the truth. However, God gave victory to His truth through Elijah that day.

In John 9, Jesus gave sight to a man who had been born blind. When the Pharisees who opposed Jesus asked the man who had made him to see, the man answered unashamedly even over the objections of the powerful Pharisees. However, the man's parents did not exhibit such courage. The Pharisees asked them how their son received his sight. The parents responded, "By what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself" (John 9:21). This answer was a dodge. They knew how he was made to see, but they were afraid to tell the Pharisees for fear of what they might do in retaliation. The next verses make that clear:

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him" (John 9:22-23).

They were cowards who issued their disclaimer to protect themselves from the Pharisees instead of standing for the truth regardless of the cost.

In John 12, we see another case of the same thing involving those who were in places of power, but did not want to lose their position by confessing Christ. Notice how the Bible describes these people:

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:42-43).

What a shame it was that these people loved the praise of men more than God! It is a sad fact that some still do.

If we are to serve God acceptably, we must realize our responsibility to stand for God and His truth regardless of the cost. At times, it will cost us as others ridicule, oppose and even denounce us. But we must always remember that it is the ultimate praise of God that we seek, not the temporary popularity of this world. Let us determine to make our stand for our Lord and His truth

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