Articles
Finding Our Voice
God’s spokesmen in various ages have been threatened by the carnal forces of the world not to speak the truth but rather speak only the words that support the approved narrative.
God to Balaam: “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak” (Num 22:35).
Balak to Balaam: “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!” (Num 23:11).
Balaam to Balak: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it” (Num 23:19-20).
Messenger to Micaiah: “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement” (2 Chr 18:12).
Micaiah to messenger: “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak” (2 Chr 18:13).
God to Jeremiah: “Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak … all the words that I command you … Do not diminish a word … ‘I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth’” (Jer 26:2, 6).
Priests and prophets about Jeremiah: “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard” (Jer 26:11).
Jeremiah to the princes of Israel: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard … As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you” (Jer 26:12, 14).
Social pressure has been building for a long time to use certain approved words or avoid the use of others. But this is changing. Now government agencies are beginning to pass laws that seek to control speech and force us to use language that reflects is ideology. In Iowa and Massachusetts churches deemed “ places of public accommodation” must “use names, pronouns, and gender-related terms appropriate to an employee’s stated gender identity” (Samaritan Ministries newsletter, 10/16). Some companies are also on the bandwagon. Universities are beginning to demand that professors and administration only use approved terminology when addressing those who are gender confused. Barring a drastic reversal, this trend will only expand until it eventually lands on your doorstep and mine.
This article cannot tackle the broader subject of how to handle individual scenarios. Rather, it is an exhortation to find our voice and bolster our courage to say what is true and right regardless of the situation. I fear that years of hostile social conditioning have been successful in cowing many Christians into silence. Perhaps it is time for each of us to ask ourselves some questions:
Do I expect to live my convictions without suffering for them?
Is my silence a matter of judiciousness or cowardice?
Am I prepared for the moment when the spotlight is turned on me and I have to choose between expressing an unpopular viewpoint and ducking the issue to save face or even a job?
Am I willing to confess Christ – and all He stands for – no matter what the cost?
The language police are coming. We must not compromise the truth.
