Today, April the 17th 2015, is what many will refer to as this year’s “Day of Silence.” If you are wondering what the “Day of Silence” is, it is simply a day of the year that many have chosen to go throughout being silent or speaking as little as possible in order to stand together against the mistreatment of gay persons. According to the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) website, dayofsilence.org, says, “The Day of Silence is a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.” Students across America and in many countries, from middle schools to colleges are participating in this event, many with the embracement of the school faculty. While I still consider myself a young adult, the rapid changes that have taken place in the last years since I was in school, such as the popularity of this event, are truly astounding, regardless of your views. 

I first want to say that I also am opposed to any name-calling, bullying or harassment of any LGBT individual or community. New Testament Christianity and the scriptures do not teach that we are to mock or injure anyone as a way to persuade them from sin. This does not however mean I support the “Day of Silence.” The way the homosexual community defines harassment has evolved beyond bounds, such as writing or sharing an article such as this one, simply reading certain scriptures, or answering someone’s question on what you believe is all it takes to be considered a bully. Despite religious freedom being a core right of our country, the laws of the land are quickly taking to the side of religious suppression. Young Christians, if you believe you can be part of this event because it is in part about bullying, you are making a sinful mistake! This day is defined as one that is for the LGBT community, events such as these are what have pushed the rapid acceptance of a sin on a Christian nation; do not take part in it! 

How else should we react to an event like this, should we be the ones keeping quiet? The inspired scriptures of God make it clear that we as Christians are to be anything but silent. In Acts chapter four Peter and John had been encircled by the authorities of their day for preaching. Though Jesus whom they preached was just killed days before, and much persecution awaited the church just ahead, when they were commanded by the Council not to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus, they replied, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19,20) NASB. Silence was nothing these apostles could keep, no matter who gave the orders then, or no matter who gives them now, we cannot be silent. Think of the great commission given by Christ, to go, to teach all nations everything He commanded (Matt 28: 19,20). Paul wrote to Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort…” (2 Tim 2:4, cf. Titus 2:1), that preaching, that teaching is a vital part of our Christianity. Jesus again taught us that we cannot be ashamed Him (Matt 10:33), and that it is “…by your words you shall be justified…” (Matt 12:37). Paul again as he began the inspired letter to the church at Rome said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation…” (Rom 1:16). Knowing the life of Paul, the persecutions he endured, we know he was not ashamed to speak that gospel, it is no wonder he also quoted the scripture “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel” (Rom 10:15) ESV, preaching through which he said man would be saved. We as Christians need to speak out, to preach and to teach the truth that can save man, and expose the sin that causes man to be lost, God has always used an individual to deliver His message to man. 

The homosexual community has worked together and has been very outspoken, and they are seeing the benefits of their labor. Homosexuals and their supporters have been so out spoken that on this day they are getting attention by simply being quiet. Sadly Christians on the other hand, have been silent all along. Even a handful of years ago, when those who claimed Christianity was the majority in agreement that homosexuality was sin, we too often kept quiet on the awkward sexual subject. We let groups like Westboro Baptist do the speaking, we let the rude graffiti on the bathroom stalls, written by the unchurched, do the speaking on our behalf, and now we wonder what went wrong. The fault is not only those who used such sinful methods to oppose homosexuality, the fault is also on us who knew the truth, who knew the way God wanted it spoken, but we didn’t speak it at all. We have failed to speak the oracles of God. 

So what, do we do now? Do we run out and scream “homosexuality is wrong”? No, we shouldn’t be ashamed to say that, but that’s not what we should scream at the top of our lungs. Instead we must preach the gospel, the whole counsel of God. By picking on homosexuality alone, we are the same hypocrites as the Westboro church, vulgar comedian or the bathroom artist, enwrapped in all sorts of sin while condemning one. But if we preach against all sin, not to minimize homosexuality, but instead to show true Christianity, it’s pureness in all aspects of life, then we are speaking the oracles of God. We have to preach and to teach and live by all that Jesus commanded, all His apostles showed us, all the word of God. This requires speaking out. 

One final passage in conclusion you might recall, from the prophet Jeremiah, he had a tough message to proclaim, he knew the word of God, but the people did not want to hear it. As Jeremiah says he attempted to hold the message in, he says, “…then in my heart it became like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in…” (Jer 20:9). We also know the word, and we also have a very tough audience, maybe we have been holding the word of God in. Have we held the word of God in so long that that the fire has burned out? Speaking God’s word caused Jeremiah great suffering and lamenting, but he spoke it. Paul rejoiced in that same suffering (Col 1:24), but he also spoke the word, because he knew the reward. We have to speak the message of God, let’s speak it today. “We cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”