Boldness in the Face of Danger

God's word tells us that He hates lying. Indeed, He classes it with the sins of murder and perjury.

Not only are we barred from lying, but God delights in those who deal truly. Taken together, these to requirements of God mean we may never give any public consent to lies, falsehood, or wickedness. Rather, we must be openly honest in the truth.

The problem is that being truthful, and withdrawing our assent to falsehood and evil, is not very prudent. There is a price to pay when we reject falsehood and affirm truth, especially about sin.

The prophet Amos recorded God's declaration regarding this matter in Amos 5. There, God describes the fact that the world hates those who publicly rebuke falsehood and sin, as well as those who positively assert truth and advocate righteousness.

The wickedness denounced in Amos is the affliction of the just, the taking of bribes to pervert truth and justice, and denying the poor their legal rights.

Because of the persecution of truth-tellers, God notes that the prudent men keep silence in such evil days. Their silence is not commendable, but rather pragmatic for their own protection from retaliation.

But God exhorts men not to remain silent, but to speak up for truth and justice. Our silence only guarantees that the nation will be destroyed by God's wrath.

One example of Godly men denying public assent to falsehood and wickedness is seen in the three Hebrew children who were thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not obey the order to bow down before Nebuchadnezzar's golden image.

They didn't take the easy way out of bowing down outwardly, but worshiping only God inwardly. But God delivered them!