First and foremost, every believer in Christ is called saint (Psalm 30:4; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 8:27; Ephesians 6:18)
. Silence, though seemingly innocuous, can cloak a multitude of sins. When the voices of the righteous are hushed, injustice flourishes unchecked, and the forces of darkness gain ground. The complacency of silent saints is akin to providing fertile soil for the seeds of oppression and apathy to take root. The peril of silent saints is a sobering reality illuminated by Ezekiel 3:17-19; ‘’ Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul’’.
God, in His divine wisdom, has ordained saved souls to be vessels for the propagation of the Gospel to the unsaved masses. Each believer bears the solemn charge to proclaim the Word tirelessly, whether the timing seems opportune or not (2 Timothy 4:2). When the vibrant chorus of praise and proclamation falls silent, the fervor of faith diminishes, and the flames of revival flicker weakly. Inaction and passivity become the norm, stifling the transformative power of the Gospel. But perhaps the greatest danger lies in the missed opportunities for witness and testimony. The silence of the saints robs the world of the light of Christ, leaving hearts in darkness and souls adrift. In a world hungering for hope and truth, the silent saints withhold the very message that can bring redemption and restoration. In Luke 19:40; ‘’ And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out’’. In this context, the declaration of Jesus conveys a powerful truth: the worship and praise of God are non-negotiable, and if humanity fails to fulfill this sacred duty, creation itself will rise up in proclamation. It highlights the cosmic significance of worship, demonstrating that it is not merely a human activity but a universal mandate ordained by God. And this statement serves as a rebuke to the Pharisees' hypocrisy and hardness of heart. While they sought to suppress the praise of the disciples, Jesus reminds them that even if the disciples were silenced, the very stones would cry out in worship. It underscores the futility of trying to thwart God's purposes and the inevitability of His glory being proclaimed.
From a doctrinal standpoint, this statement reaffirms the sovereignty of God and the intrinsic value of worship in His sight. It echoes the sentiment expressed in Psalm 96:11-12, which declares, "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord." Ultimately, "if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out" serves as a solemn reminder of the privilege and responsibility bestowed upon humanity to offer worship and praise to our Creator. It underscores the eternal truth that all of creation exists to glorify God, and nothing can hinder the proclamation of His greatness. Consider the saint as a coin: until set in circulation, its worth remains dormant. Likewise, as the light of the world, if a believer conceals their light beneath a bushel, surrounding darkness ensues. Soul-winning is not an optional pursuit; it is an imperative mandate. As Paul ardently declares, the compulsion to preach the Gospel is overwhelming (1 Corinthians 9:16). ‘’ For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!’’ We are bound by duty to disseminate the message of salvation and uphold the Great Commission entrusted to us by God.
Silence holds the potential to obscure the radiance of God's truth and impede the advancement of His Kingdom. At its core, the silence of saints signifies a withdrawal from the battlefield of spiritual warfare. It is a retreat from the frontlines of evangelism and a surrender to the forces of darkness that seek to engulf the world in spiritual darkness. When the voices of the faithful are muted, the adversary gains ground, and the light of Christ dims in the hearts of humanity.
Scripture resounds with the clarion call for believers to be bold witnesses, heralds of the Gospel, and agents of transformation in a fallen world. The Great Commission, entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, mandates us to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet, in our silence, we neglect this sacred duty, allowing souls to languish in ignorance and sin.
Moreover, the silence of saints carries dire consequences for the spiritual vitality of the body of Christ. It stifles the flow of spiritual gifts and quenches the fire of revival that should burn brightly within the Church. When the voices of praise grow faint, and the fervency of prayer wanes, the vibrancy of spiritual life ebbs away, leaving behind a lukewarm faith that neither satisfies nor glorifies God.
Yet, perhaps the most profound danger of silent saints lies in the betrayal of our divine calling to be salt and light in the world. Our silence speaks volumes to a watching world, conveying a message of indifference and complacency in the face of sin and suffering. It obscures the beauty of God's love and mercy, leaving souls to wander in darkness without the guiding light of truth. Therefore, let us heed the exhortation of Scripture to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
Let us break the silence with the proclamation of God's Word, the demonstration of His love, and the power of His Spirit. For in our bold witness and unwavering obedience, we fulfill our sacred duty as ambassadors of Christ, shining beacons of hope in a world desperate for the saving grace of our Lord and Savior. In the spiritual realm, saints assume the role of watchmen, entrusted with divine insight to discern looming dangers. Yet, if they shroud themselves in silence, they betray not only God but also conspire with the forces of darkness to withhold eternal life from those in peril.
Silent saints forfeit their position of spiritual advantage, neglecting to sound the alarm and warn the heedless. Their reticence renders them complicit in spiritual robbery, denying both sinners and themselves access to God's redemptive provision.Furthermore, their silence is akin to laborers who idly withhold their sickles, squandering the harvest. In doing so, they deny sinners the opportunity of salvation in the present age and eternal life beyond.
Ultimately, silent saints bear the weight of accountability for the blood of those who might have repented if only they had broken their silence and rob themselves of the joy and crown of soul-winning and forego God's mercy in their own time of need. Let us heed this warning and embrace our calling with fervor, lest we be found wanting before the throne of grace. Therefore, arise today and ‘’cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins’’ (Isaiah 58:1).