The Scriptural Mandate to Speak
Scripture is not ambiguous on this matter. Christ did not command His disciples to be cautious ambassadors. He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). That gospel is not confined to salvation alone; it is a call to righteousness, justice, and truth in every sphere of life, including governance.
The prophets of old did not shy away from confronting kings. Nathan rebuked David. Elijah challenged Ahab. John the Baptist lost his life for calling out Herod’s sin. These men were not political operatives; they were moral voices. And their courage was not optional; it was obedience.
In Romans 13, Paul reminds us that governing authorities are instituted by God. But he also warns that rulers are to be “a terror to bad conduct.” When rulers reward evil and punish good, the Church must speak. Silence in such moments is not prudence; it is betrayal.
.....The Cost of Cowardice
When the Church is silent, evil advances. When pastors refuse to speak, laws are passed that mock God’s design. When parishioners are not guided, they vote blindly or not at all. And when Christians abandon the ballot box, they abandon the battlefield.
This is not just a political failure, it is a spiritual one. For a man who does not stand up and fight for truth is not merely passive. He is disobedient. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17).
God did not call His people to comfort. He called them to courage. He did not promise ease; He promised presence. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). That promise was not just for Joshua—it is for every believer who dares to speak truth in a hostile world.
