We Have to Speak

An Unforgetable Conversation

When I was discerning my call to ministry, I had a conversation with my dad that has stuck with me for the past fourteen years. As we were out doing chores around the farm, my dad pulled me to the side and said, “Jason, I know you're considering entering the ministry. If you continue to pursue this, don’t forget that Jesus said, ‘Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.’ (Mark 9:42, ESV). This isn’t fun and games.” At the time, I thought he was being a little dramatic, but fourteen years later, I see the wisdom in his warning. There are dire consequences when pastors don’t faithfully fulfill their calling.

A Dangerous Calling

Pastoral ministry is a dangerous calling. I realize some may laugh at that statement. Many people see pastoral ministry as a cushy calling. Pastors spend their days praying, reading, writing, and talking with people. Doesn’t seem very dangerous, does it? This mentality only shows how far we’ve strayed from a proper view of pastoral ministry.

Listen to what God has to say to Ezekiel in chapter 3 and then determine whether the pastoral calling is dangerous:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 3:17–19, ESV).

Refusing to Warn

That passage has weighed on me from the beginning of my pastoral ministry. God tells Ezekiel that if he refuses to warn Israel of their sin, if he sees them rebelling against God and refuses to warn them, he will be held responsible for their sin—blood will be required at Ezekiel’s hand. Keeping his mouth shut and refusing to speak out against Israel’s rebellion will result in Ezekiel being considered guilty. However, if he warns them of their wickedness and rebellion and they continue in their rebellion, Ezekiel will be considered innocent—he will have delivered his soul.

Paul says something similar to Timothy. He tells Timothy, “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16, ESV). Notice the similarities? If Timothy keeps a close watch on his life and on his doctrine, he will not only save himself, but he will save his hearers. However, if Timothy becomes lazy in his calling—slacking of in his pursuit of godliness and the study of God’s Word—his life and the life of his hearers will be negatively affected.

We Have to Speak

I can’t think of an admonition more relevant to our current situation in the Evangelical Church and—to be more specific—in the Christian Reformed Church. Pastors, we have been called to speak the Word of God to his people and to those we encounter in the community. We are to say whatever God has told us to say. We don’t have the luxury of choosing what we’ll talk about and what we’ll keep quiet about. We must speak the Word of God with conviction, passion, and confidence.

If we refuse to fulfill this calling—if we see people around us being destroyed by their sinful hearts and refuse to speak—we will be held responsible and considered guilty. Let that sink in for a moment. Yes, they will be help accountable for their sin, but you will also be held accountable for your refusal to do what God told you to do—rebuke and correct the wicked. That is not a lesser failure.

There are many temptations to be quiet right now. Many Christians are angrily telling pastors to “shut up” and stop talking about the sin and unrighteousness around them. We can’t do it. God has not given us that option. We must speak. We must correct. We must rebuke. We must train in righteousness. We must not allow our fear of man to prevent us from fulfilling the calling God has given us. Bonhoeffer was right when he said,

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”