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Proverbs 28:4-5 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.  Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

These wise words of Solomon present us with a challenge today.  There is a widespread view among Christians that the better way to address where our culture is heading, is not to speak out against its evils and thus turn people unnecessarily away from the Gospel message of hope we proclaim, but rather, by word and lifestyle, to demonstrate clearly the power of the Gospel and, by so doing, to attract people to the beauty and wonder of it.  This line of thinking is based on the view that we have already lost the ‘Culture War’, and that more individual souls will be won for Christ by just being positive about the wonderful hope he has bought for us through his death, and the amazing difference it makes to our lives if we enjoy the great benefit of his Holy Spirit living and working within us.  Yes, this approach has a lot going for it, and we should never underestimate the powerful effect transparent Godly living can have on those around us.

But what Solomon is saying here is consistent with Jesus’ calling his disciples to be salt and light in the rotting, dark world our culture is producing on its present trajectory.  Once our culture has blatantly and defiantly rejected the clear instruction of God’s Written Word, and persists in ‘praising’ (in very subtle and intrusive ways) those who embrace such a worldview, it isopposing everything that our Creator has set in place for our mutual enjoyment, benefit and blessing.

Solomon, on the other hand, is telling us that once we understand what (God says) is right we have a responsibility to warn those who are (albeit ignorantly) on the path of evil and to ‘call out’ the evil that is infecting our society.

Fortunately, the Apostle Peter gives us some godly wisdom about how to hold all this together: “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.  Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:11-12), and “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:14-16).

– Bruce Christian