NOTES ON THE COURAGEOUS ABANDONMENT OF SILENCE: GOD SHALL GIVE US THE WORDS – IF WE ASK! – (WITH VIDEO)

THE THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say …But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” – EXODUS 4:10-12; MATTHEW 10:19-20, NKJV

KEY TERMS: “I WILL TEACH YOU WHAT TO SAY.” From a base word meaning, ‘To flow as water (i.e., to rain);’ also, to throw or shoot an arrow; to point out (as if aiming the finger); to direct, inform, instruct; to set a cornerstone; to shew [the right direction]; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant.”

QUOTATION. “‘We must always take sides.’ Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.” – ELIE WIESEL, “Acceptance Speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 1986; edited

COMMENTARY. “Moses continued backward to the work God designed him for; there was much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in him. We must not judge of men by the readiness of their discourse. A great deal of wisdom and true worth may be with a slow tongue. God sometimes makes choice of those as his messengers, who have the least of the advantages of art or nature, that his grace in them may appear the more glorious. Christ’s disciples were no orators, till the Holy Spirit made them such.

God condescends to answer the excuse of Moses. Even self-diffidence, when it hinders us from duty, or clogs us in duty, is very displeasing to the Lord. But while we blame Moses for shrinking from this dangerous service, let us ask our own hearts if we are not neglecting duties more easy, and less perilous. The tongue of Aaron, with the head and heart of Moses, would make one completely fit for this errand. ‘God promises, I will be with thy mouth, as with His mouth.’ Even Aaron, who could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God gave constant teaching and help; for without the constant aid of Divine grace, the best gifts will fail.” – MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

II. THE TEACHING

DK’S TAKE. Beloved, as you well know from my Polemics of the past several years, it appears to me that: ‘The American Church has taken a Vow of Silence’ concerning the swirling crises surrounding the entire nation. For reasons that I have labored to document in the past, including fear of man, fear of loss of financial security, and the consequent watering down of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to “Remain Safe” by a spiritual posture that could not, ironically, be more perilous for her leaders.

So, what can we possibly do at this point?

Just This: ‘Determine that WE shall not be silent even one day longer, save for walking away from those that by discernment do not desire to hear us any longer.’ “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet” – JESUS OF NAZARETH, Matthew 10:14, New King James Version.

BARRIERS TO SPEAKING OUT. I happily turn once more to the wisdom of JOHN PIPER in his concise essay, “Why We Should Have Courage to Speak About Christ” (Desiring God, June 18, 2007; edited).

INTRODUCTION. “What I want to talk about is the courage to open your mouth and to say things that you’ve learned about Jesus to people who don’t know those things. If you are single, there is a Special Calling on this Season of your life to be courageous, a Season which could extend until you die.”

SINFUL HEARTS REJECT AUTHORITY. “So, the First Reason that it is difficult to have courage is that, when a sinful heart meets Authority — Jesus — sparks fly, and we don’t like to make sparks. Let’s go the other way. I would like to help you overcome that, to stay in that situation and to go all the way through.”

OUR WORLD DOES NOT LIKE OBJECTIVE TRUTH. “We are in a Day of Great Relativism, Pluralism, Postmodernism. All kinds of words are used for it. It’s a day when Truth is not esteemed as something that’s ‘there’ — Objective, outside of us, to which we all strive and conform to, and everybody must see it and agree on it ultimately or perish. That’s not the way most people think today.”

OUR CULTURE FEARS “RIGHT WING” RELIGION. [Mr. Piper had little idea at the time of his writing how profoundly prophetic he was here]. “Today there is amazing fear in the broader culture of right-wing religious people. Now, I don’t like the term ‘Right-Wing.’ I’d rather not be associated with a kind of brittle, Republican, right-wing thinking. But if anyone were to take the temperature of what I believe and what I do, they would put me in that category in a minute.”

ATHEISM IS GETTING AGGRESSIVE. “You’ve got millions of people reading these books [and media] that are in-your-face atheistic. All of that to say, the Culture that you live in, where you function, has got that feel about it, and therefore it’s going to take courage to stand up and say, “A man who lived two thousand years ago is the only way to know God and be rescued from perishing.”

A CRUCIFIED KING CONFUSES MOST PEOPLE. “The last one is that the Bible itself says that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is wisdom and it is power to those who are being saved, but a crucified Messiah — that’s a stumbling block and foolishness.”

FIVE ENCOURAGEMENTS. Mr. Piper then offers some richly Biblical though simple, practical things we can learn and do to help us speak out in this raging Era of Antichrist that has even closed the ears and hearts of millions of American Christians today. Much has changed since he published this essay in 2007; this his words become even more salient to us for the Days of Darkness that lay ahead.

FIGHT FROM CHRIST’S VICTORY. “If you are being called the Devil because you are lovingly commending Christ, it’s evidence that you’re in the house, you’re in the household, you’re in the family, you’re lining up with Jesus. Nothing could be more reassuring and encouraging than to know that Jesus is saying, ‘You’re on My side!’I’d rather be on Jesus’ side than a million people’s side — because He’s going to win in the end. I think that’s the way the argument works: ‘If they called Me the Devil, and they’re calling you the Devil, who are you lining up with? Me! And I win, so be encouraged. Don’t be afraid.’”
ENVISION THE LAST DAY. “One of the things that makes us fearful is that everyone’s going to think we’re wrong, and then they’re going to bring forth arguments that make us look wrong. Jesus is saying, ‘Listen, if you proclaim what I have told you in My Book, the whole world might think you’re wrong, but what is hidden will one day be revealed.’ I mean: ‘Picture the Last Day.’ That blue canopy splits, rolled up like a scroll, and King Jesus appears with millions of angels … ‘To vindicate you!’”
VIEW DEATH AS A DOOR. “Here’s the Third Incentive to be courageous: ‘Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.’ Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Fear God, but don’t fear man — why? … The Third Incentive is to remember that death is all that man can do to you in The End. The worst thing that they can do is wipe you out on earth. And for Christians — ‘Doorway to Paradise!’ I hope I have the courage on that day, when somebody’s got a gun to my head or whatever, to say, ‘Make my day.’ I probably won’t, but I dream about it. Don’t we all dream about being good martyrs?”
KNOW HIS NEARNESS. “It gets sweeter now. Those three are kind of tough — like, they can only kill you. Haven’t you got anything sweeter to say? Well, He does, and the last two are sweet:‘Even the hairs of your head are all numbered’ (Matthew 10:30). Now, why did He say that? He’s in a context of courage and speaking boldly, and he says, ‘I can count the hairs on your head.’ How does that encourage us? … To point out that He knows the number of our hairs is simply to point out He’s really close. He’s really intimate. He’s really there for us.”
SEE HIS SOVEREIGNTY. “Here’s the last one, and I think probably the best of all. He says, ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows’ (Matthew 10:29-31). There’s an argument here. There’s logic, and then there’s sweetness … Remember HENRY MARTYN, the missionary to the Persians. He said that famous line, which I am paraphrasing: ‘I am immortal until God’s work for me is done.’ If I die, his work for me is done, and until then, I cannot die. That’s a great way to live. That’s a great courage to have.”

These are Theological and Practical Markers – Signatures of the King by which we are enabled to negotiate the Great Storms that are just around the bend in these perilous, yet outrageously exciting, Last Days.

III. LAST WARNINGS

WORD TO THE AMERICAN CHURCH. There is the famous Quotation attributed to DEITRICH BONHOEFFER, though much debated as to its legitimacy of source. Never mind that, beloved; it is thoroughly, richly and even violently Biblical, worthy of any true follower of the Messiah in these perilous times.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

It goes hand in hand with still another quotation from ELIE WIESEL that calls a cowardly Church to Repentance: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s Indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s Indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s Indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s Indifference.” – U.S. News and World Report, Oct. 27, 1986; edited

AMERICAN LAODICEA. In light of all that has been written here, there is not a single question in my mind that the ‘American Church has gone full-on Lukewarm!’ And Jesus held perhaps His most damning, violent Words for that particular congregation and all the more so for its Pastor.

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” – REVELATION 3:14-18, NKJV

THE SEVERITY & MERCY OF GOD. “‘Laodicea was the last and worst of the seven churches of Asia.’ Here our Lord Jesus styles Himself, The Amen; One steady and unchangeable in all His purposes and promises. If Religion is worth anything, it is worth everything. Christ expects men should be in earnest. ‘How many professors of Gospel Doctrine are neither hot nor cold; except as they are indifferent in needful matters,’ and hot and fiery in disputes about things of lesser moment!’

‘A severe punishment is threatened.’ They would give a false opinion of Christianity, as if it were an unholy religion; while others would conclude it could afford no real satisfaction, otherwise its professors would not have been heartless in it, or so ready to seek pleasure or happiness from the world. One cause of this Indifference and Inconsistency in religion is, ‘Self-Conceit and Self-Delusion – Because thou sayest.’ What a difference between their thoughts of themselves, and the thoughts Christ had of them! How careful should we be not to cheat our owns souls! There are many in Hell, who once thought themselves far in the way to Heaven. Let us beg of God that we may not be left to flatter and deceive ourselves. Professors grow proud, as they become carnal and formal. Their state was wretched in itself. They were poor; really poor, when they said and thought they were rich. They could not see their state, nor their way, nor their danger, yet they thought they saw it. They had not the garment of justification, nor sanctification: They were exposed to sin and shame; their rags that would defile them. They were naked, without house or harbour, for they were without God, in whom alone the soul of man can find rest and safety.

‘Good Counsel was given by Christ to this sinful people.’ Happy those who take His Counsel, for all others must perish in their sins. Christ lets them know where they might have true riches, and how they might have them. Some things must be parted with, but nothing valuable; and it is only to make room for receiving true riches. Part with sin and self-confidence, that you may be filled with his hidden treasure. They must receive from Christ the white raiment He purchased and provided for them; His own imputed righteousness for justification, and the garments of holiness and sanctification. Let them give themselves up to His Word and Spirit, and their eyes shall be opened to see their way and their end. ‘Let us examine ourselves by the Rule of His Word,’ and pray earnestly for the Teaching of his Holy Spirit, to take away our pride, prejudices, and worldly lusts …

‘In the Conclusion is a Promise to the Overcoming Believer.’ Christ Himself had temptations and conflicts; He overcame them all, and was more than a Conqueror. Those made like to Christ in His trials, shall be made like to Him in glory. All is closed with the general demand of attention. And these Counsels, while suited to the Churches to which they were addressed, are deeply interesting to all men.” – Henry, Exposition, 1708-1710; edited

CODA. I could not possibly say better what the Old Testament Sages, the Apostles, the Messiah Himself and His better scribes and wise men of letter have written here, save for one GRAND REMINDER:

Beloved, Jesus was not speaking to the citizenry of the ancient pagan City of Laodicea that was situated on the long spur of a hill between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus which discharge their waters into the Lycus River.

No!

He was addressing the Last of Seven Churches in what was then known as Turkey, that many expositors take to mean: THE LAST DAYS CHURCH, ‘US!’ Not the Democrats, the Deists, the Disbelievers, nor even the Diabolical. No, my friends, the King of kings was speaking singularly and severely to none other than:

The Christian Church, and especially to their Pastors!

IV. LAST THOUGHTS

21 DAYS IN THE CATACOMBS. This next part is hard for me, beloved, but quite necessary. Most of you well know my personal struggle with the Election Dilemma over Not Voting versus Voting Blue that has divided us to some degree – though it need not. In any case, TWO EVENTS have led me to Revise my No Vote position, and I need to share it with all of you in view of this topic of “The Abandonment of Silence.”

DR. RUSSELL MOORE. Of all the voices in American Christendom that have stood courageously against the Scourge of Donald Trump’s too-easy sedition of the Church, Dr. Moore’s for me has been among the clearest and most theologically sound. So I put out a fleece to the Lord: “Father, if Dr. Moore recommends voting Blue, I promise to carefully consider his view.” Then this: “Drs. Russell Moore, Timothy Keller, Francis Collins, and others … began to exert substantial effort over the coming years to convince Evangelicals that voting for Democrats was acceptable, and even necessary to stop Trump” (JOEL WEBBON, Right Response Ministries Podcast, Jan. 10, 2024).

MICAH 6:8 (AMP). Then This: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?” DK. This is the Scripture that I was given early in the morning of Friday, September 13, 2024, as I cried out on my knees for His Word to me. The last part about “Self-Righteousness” lept from the page and pierced my heart. I’ll return to it later.

CODICIL. As I reflected on what I had clearly heard, in addition to the voices of individuals in this Fellowship beginning with my wife, Suzette, my children, and an additional passage brought to me from PSALM 46:10 about “Letting go” of my own sense of righteousness, I felt my walls begin to crumble, beloved.

Dr. Moore and Mr. French challenged the depths of me to consider “The Loving Thing to Do” in order to:

Remain consistent in my nearly 10 Year juggernaut calling Christians out of their Silence.
To strike another blow against Donald Trump by now possibly voting for the Harris-Walz ticket.
Solidify my Christian Witness to the Unsaved to join them in their resistance to Trump’s violent wickedness.
To send an unequivocal message to my largely White Christian Evangelicals that I shall never stand with their alignment with the Beast of Babylon.

IN SUMMARY. There are just Two More Matters I must mention here, for both myself and for the entire Peloton Confessing Fellowship.

ABANDON SELF-RIGHTEOUNESS. “Also called sanctimony, sententiousness, and holier-than-thou

attitudes, is an attitude and belief of moral superiority derived from a person deeming their own beliefs, actions, or affiliations to be of greater virtue than those of others. Self-righteous individuals are often intolerant of the opinions and behaviors of others that they deem to be less virtuous.” – EDITORS, Wikipedia, July 12, 2024; edited

REBUILD THE WALL! “So we built the wall, and all [of it] was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work.” – NEHEMIAH 4:6, AMPC

DK NOTE. Though you may freely disagree, I am no longer interested in Rebuilding The American Order, beloved, but rather the Remnant Church Walls toward Truth and Orthodoxy.’ And, should God graciously permit, bring Repair to our own little house that all this has impacted.

This is Not an Edict. To instruct you how to vote this November 5, but rather a deeply personal Confession of the evolution from my hardened (and judgmental) position to one that honors the following Command from our King:

“Let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.” – MATTHEW 5:37, AMP

We Conclude. With the very Words of Christ, beloved, giving all thanks to God our Sovereign forever! Selah.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/bRgGUYn-lcg