Endorsing evil by staying silent

When in history did the idea arise that Christians should withdraw from the political process and be disengaged from cultural battles?

In his recent book, Silence Equals Consent – The Sin of Omission: Speak Now or Forever Lose Your Freedom, William Federer explores that question and seeks to bring clarity on what role, if any, Christians play in shaping society around them.

Federer, a bestselling author, historian, and nationally known speaker, told The Stand about his new book and his observations and concerns regarding the present state of culture.

Silent Christians

Federer explained that he wrote the book, in part, because he realized so many professing Christians are actually being silent by not voting.

He mentioned one statistic that indicated some 80 million Americans identify as Christian. But only half of that number are registered to vote, and of those registered, only half actually do vote. This translates to a mere quarter of professing believers going to the polls on Election Day.

Federer also cited a George Barna poll revealing that out of those who claim to be Christians, only 30 million qualify as evangelicals with a biblical worldview, and a third of those do not vote.

In short, whether tracking all professing believers or those who have a worldview consistent with a true believer, the statistics indicate a trend of millions within the so-called evangelical voting bloc that simply do not vote.

“I thought, ‘Where did this idea of not voting come from?’” Federer asked.

He believes the idea can be traced back to Pietism, a Christian movement that arose in Germany in the 17th century on the heels of the Protestant Reformation.

“Pietists emphasize an experience with Jesus,” Federer said. “After that experience, according to Pietists, one will no longer be involved with worldly things, including government.

“Pietism eventually morphed into the German concept of the two kingdoms,” stated Federer, “the kingdom of the government and the kingdom of the church, and the two were not to touch.”

By the 18th century, such thought had made its way to America but stood in stark contrast with the beliefs of the Christians who had settled there many years before.

“For the entire 1600s in America, everyone was involved in both the church and the city government,” Federer said “because the Christian churches were the ones founding the cities.

“So, while the Puritans believed you could be involved in both the church and government, the Pietists said, ‘No, if you’re really a Christian, you’re going to withdraw from worldly things, including the government,’” Federer explained.

The danger of silence

There is an obvious problem, however, when those who are called to be salt and light withdraw from public discourse.

“If those who are spiritual withdraw from government, who’s left to be involved but those who are less spiritual?” Federer questioned. “And because they’re less spiritual, they’re going to yield to their ambitions and become power hungry and become tyrants.”

Federer pointed to Nazi Germany as an example of what can happen when the church believes it should have no voice in the government.

“Four centuries of that teaching in Germany allowed Hitler to put Jews on the train cars. And those Jews cried out for help as they passed by the churches on their way to be killed,” he said. “And the churches’ response was, ‘Well that’s the government killing the Jews, and we’re the church and can’t get involved in government. So, let’s just sing praise songs to Jesus louder.’”

Federer’s goal is not to bash Pietism. In fact, he gave credit to Pietists for much of the good they brought about by spreading the gospel and sparking revivals. He believes, as the Pietists, that a personal experience with Jesus is imperative.

“But why can’t there be both?” Federer asked. “Why can’t we have a covenant form of government where we the people rule ourselves and have a personal experience with Jesus?”

The sinfulness of silence

Federer contends that silence is not only dangerous, but it can be sinful.

“For those who think they are being spiritual by not being involved in politics, I have a question,” Federer stated. “What do you do with Numbers 30, the ‘silence equals consent’ chapter of the Bible?”

Federer explained that the book of Numbers, Chapter 30, details examples in which a person’s silence gives approval to the vows of another.

Federer said one of the examples in Numbers 30 is the origin of the familiar phrase heard at many wedding ceremonies: “Speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

“The pastor is essentially telling the church that if they are silent, they are giving their consent to the marriage,” he explained. “And if a church member’s silence gives consent to wedding vows, it gives consent to other things as well.”

Federer also offered the example from Numbers 20 of Moses and Aaron not being allowed to enter the Promised Land because of rebellion. Moses struck the rock for water rather than speaking to it as God had commanded.

“When Moses lifted up the rod the first time and hit the rock, it probably took Aaron by surprise, but when he lifted up the rod the second time, Aaron knew what was coming, and he did not protest,” Federer said. “He was silent, and in that instant, Aaron was guilty. Moses’ [sin] was a sin of commission; Aaron’s was a sin of omission.”

Similar sins of omission are happening with increasing frequency in this nation today.

Federer listed abortion, child mutilation (under the guise of transgender care), and child sex trafficking as just a few examples.

“Where’s the church in all this?” Federer asked. Then highlighting the deafening silence of the church, he answered sarcastically, “Oh, we don’t want to get involved in politics.”

Choosing sides

Evil is always a force to be reckoned with, but in a godly society, it is often kept at bay and relegated to operating in the dark.

However, in the past decade or so, evil seems to have emerged from the shadows and has manifested itself in undeniable ways.

To illustrate how overt the evil has become, Federer pointed to satanic clubs at elementary schools, satanic “trans-clothes” designers for Target, a satanic-themed cartoon by Disney, satanic-themed Grammys, satanic statues at state capitols, and the blasphemous opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

“I think God is letting the evil be exposed because He is pushing the world to a decision-making moment,” Federer said. “And I think God is saying, ‘I’m pulling back the curtain to make this really easy. God or the devil – you choose.’”

To be clear, silence is not neutral. Silence equals consent. As German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.”

Federer concluded, “I think God is looking to see who will stand back, do nothing, and by their silence give their tacit approval to the evil – or who will stand up and say, ‘I just can’t be silent anymore.’”