By Pastor Doug Stauffer
Edmund Burke once declared, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Scripture echoes this truth by instructing, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11). These admonitions highlight the perils of apathy and inaction in the face of wrongdoing. Silence enables harm to spiral upward and eventually out of control.
I believe standing for righteousness and championing the Gospel are compatible and complementary.
God chose America not for its inherent worthiness, but for its global ability to shine a beacon of hope. This beacon dims when the voices opposing destructive agendas are silenced or neutralized. Albert Einstein once wrote: “The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Silence in the face of evil is sin.
As Christians, we are responsible for shaping our nation’s future, refusing neutrality and upholding America’s exceptionalism rooted in understanding the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Today, we combat an anti-nationalistic, globalist agenda breeding divisive ideologies, such as the atheistic and Marxist-rooted Critical Race Theory. Radical doctrines promoting abortion and gender reassignments brazenly dismiss the sanctity and dignity of human life. Silence allows evil to triumph!
Every day is a fight against complacency and ignorance. God’s truths must permeate every aspect of our lives, extending far beyond the confines of our four-walled meeting houses. Unfortunately, Christian silence has legitimized a seismic shift in America towards secularism, now deeply embedded in our culture and overriding our laws. The complacent church is not God’s plan or His will.
America’s troubles intensified when Christians let their faith recede from public discourse and willingly submitted to judicial activism as the arbitrator of morality. Senator Lyndon Johnson’s mid-50s strategy severely hampered freedom of speech, claiming faith has no place in public matters. Our sacred duty in the political realm is to oppose government bullying and coercion.
Far too many educational institutions have evolved into platforms for radical ideologies. As believers, we must remain vigilant against child indoctrination with these inappropriate and perverse teachings. We must demand what Lincoln mentioned in his Gettysburg Address, a “government by the people, for the people.” We should continually remind our elected representatives that “We the People” are self-governing and that elected officials hold office to serve the needs and desires of their constituents. We must make our voices heard.
Being silent in the presence of wrongdoing amounts to a tacit endorsement. Welcome to the realities of 21st Century America, where the soaring price of dissent discourages many from articulating their beliefs. This pattern, which history repeatedly demonstrates, paves the way for the subjugation of nations. Nonetheless, vocally opposing such forces can inspire a wave of bravery and conviction, safeguarding our nation’s future from detrimental influences. Our founding fathers, guided by faith leaders of their time, established this nation, and I will not allow a handful or a multitude of censors to silence me.
A great illustration of allowing evil to triumph: Neville Chamberlain proclaimed “peace in our time after meeting Adolf Hitler.” His naivety illustrates the dangers of appeasing evil. Truth does not negotiate with darkness; it stands forthright and unmovable. We must constantly guard against the perils of spiritual complacency and inaction when faced with religious or secular threats.
Appeasement emboldens God’s enemies, and a passive stance towards evil encourages proliferation. We must confront spiritual wickedness with God’s armor, not appeasement. We must never compromise our spiritual values or principles, but use them as shields against forces seeking to undermine them. Spiritual appeasement can lead to a destructive war on our souls. Therefore, we must stand resolute against complacency, safeguarding our spiritual peace and freedom through unwavering steadfastness.
God’s word provides an urgent call to action: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) We can never be neutral! We must never be silenced! We must never be complacent!
Dr. Doug Stauffer is pastor of Faith Independent Baptist Church. He was saved July 6, 1980, in Niceville, while stationed at the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base and has now been in the ministry for over 35 years. He has written 20 books including the best selling “One Book” trilogy (“One Book Rightly Divided, One Book Stands Alone, One Book One Authority”); along with several devotionals (“Daily Strength” series); and prophecy books (“Reviving the Blessed Hope, When the End Begins”).
