The Pastors and the Sin of Silence by Jacob Reaume


 

"Let me go out on a limb a little bit and prophesy. I see the time coming when all the holy men whose eyes have been opened by the Holy Spirit will desert worldly Evangelicalism, one by one. The house will be left desolate and there will not be a man of God, a man in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, left among them… I hear Jesus saying… Mat 23:37-38: 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to her, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate'

As the Church now stands, the man who sees this condition of worldly evangelicalism is written off as somewhat fanatical. But the day is coming when the house will be left desolate and there will not be a man of God among them. I would like to live long enough to watch this develop and see how things turn out. I would like to live to see the time when the men and woman of God – holy, separated and spiritually enlightened – walk out of the evangelical church and form a group of their own; when they get off the sinking ship and let her go down in the brackish and worldliness and form a new ark to ride out the storm." - A.W. Tozer

The following is an excerpt from Jacob Reaume's article, The Pastors and the Sin of Silence.  

After the liberation of Europe, German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) condemned the cowardice of German elites and clergy for their silence during the Nazi era.  The Nazis slowly picked off those who dissented from official state dogma, and the clergy let it happen bit by bit.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Pastor James Coates has been arrested and detained for opening his church just outside of Edmonton, Alberta.  He could be in prison for weeks.

I fail to see how the silence of Canadian pastors is an act of faith.  I fail to see how it’s not sin...

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