Articles
Not a Word
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Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. (1 Kgs. 18:21)
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The push by Ahab and Jezebel to radicalize Israel's spiritual identity had been wildly successful. Baal had replaced Yahweh as the dominant object of worship. Many of the prophets of Yahweh had been executed, and the remainder driven underground. The path was wide open for Israel to be fully assimilated into the pagan religion of Phoenicia.
Only one man stood between these tyrants and their final objective: Elijah the Tishbite. At Mount Carmel, before a multitude of Israelites, Elijah met hundreds of prophets of Baal in a dramatic showdown to determine which deity was the true god.
But before the contest began, Elijah turned to the assembled multitude and challenged them to choose sides. The options were simple and clear-cut: Yahweh or Baal. For too long the Israelites had wavered between the two, and now they needed to make a choice. "But the people answered him not a word." No courage, no decision, no commitment. Elijah stood alone against the enemy.
God won the battle that day--but with no help from His people. As our own society descends deeper into spiritual decay, the same dynamic is playing out now. Millions of decent people, who may not fully embrace the secularism that is sweeping our culture, remain silent. When the opportunity comes to speak up for truth, they "answer not a word." Evil takes the field, because few have the courage to stand against it.
When God, the Bible, and Christianity are ridiculed in casual conversation, do we speak up and defend what we believe? Or do we remain silent and let Satan's falsehoods dominate the discussion? Do we even know how to defend what we believe?
When corporate "diversity" training sessions require that we endorse (praise, celebrate, promote) gay marriage and transgenderism as legitimate alternative lifestyles, do we voice our disapproval, or do we meekly go along?
Historically, tyrants win by browbeating the masses into submission. They keep them intimidated and afraid. Conversely, tyrants are brought down by a handful of people who have the courage to challenge their lies, even if they have to pay a steep price for their convictions.
Somebody has to speak up. Will it be you?
--David
