“If you don’t stay closed, we will close you.” Comments like these are commonplace, especially in liberal states like mine (California). Like most American churches, we closed our doors when President Trump first issued the order early in 2020. We were very willing to submit to the governing authorities and protect our community — that is, until the political motivation of the lockdown became obvious.

Recently there was quite a bit of interest over the CDC’s statement that only 6% of people actually died of the coronavirus alone, putting the nationwide death rate around 0.003%. But many liberal organizations rushed to explain it away. This clearly points to an agenda.

Think of the Public Health Director of Los Angeles County being caught admitting schools won’t open for in-class learning until “we are done with the elections.”

There are numerous other stories as well, such as doctors being told to write COVID-19 as the cause of death even if it was not. The San Diego Tribune ran a story quoting Supervisor Jim Desmond as saying, “We’ve unfortunately had six pure, solely coronavirus deaths — six out of 3.3 million people.”

I’m not minimizing even one death, but there is a greater chance of dying just walking down the street than from COVID-19 in most parts of the US. What about the increased suicide rate, the alarming divorce rate, the surge in alcohol and drug addiction, and the fear that we are instilling into our children? Should we not take these into consideration as well?

At What Point Does the Church Take a Stand?

At what point does the church take a stand? Thank God for people like John MacArthur, Rob McCoy, Jack Hibbs, Ken Graves, and others who are fanning the flames of boldness. I believe that if some churches don’t open soon, they won’t open at all, especially once flu season arrives and those who have the flu will then be suspected as having COVID. The agenda is crystal clear to those who are looking through the right lens — a biblical lens.

But what about submitting to authorities? In America, the Constitution — which our elected representatives are to defend and administer — is our governing document. The context of submitting to authorities in 1 Peter and Romans 13 is that the government would punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right, as well as uphold the Constitution (in America’s case). Many of our politicians and government officials are actually doing the complete opposite — and defying the Constitution in many ways.

Additionally, it makes it very hard to submit to governing authorities when they do things such as legitimize pedophilia here in California. What would God say about that? Are people suggesting that God wants us to submit to that type of authority?

I have a hard time seeing how we are supposed to capitulate to reckless oversight under the banner of “submitting to governing authorities” when those authorities are in clear violation of our governing document as well as God’s Word. They are trying to silence the voice of truth. In Acts 5:29 we find that we must submit to the highest Authority: “We must obey God rather than man!”

Many believe that this is an orchestrated attempt to destroy our economy, disrupt the November elections, initiate a global reset, and ultimately, silence the churches.

Folks, how much more do you need to see before you wake up and take a stand? In the Bible, I don’t read positive things about cowardliness, but I do read a great deal about boldness. It’s actually a by-product of being filled with the Spirit. Yes, we must be loving and gentle, but we also must be wise as serpents and bold as lions when it comes to holding the line. God commands us to expose the unfruitful works of darkness with the truth (Ephesians 5:11). Truth is the only thing that stabilizes.

Silent Shepherds Speak Volumes

I recently saw a survey on Facebook that asked, “Do you feel that most church leaders speak up about the real issues facing us today?” The overwhelming response was a very loud and clear no!

Pastors, people are looking to us to lead the way, but many of you are exchanging truth for tolerance, boldness for balance, and conviction for cowardliness. Many don’t want to offend for fear they might lose their audience.

Pastors and Christian leaders alike, we must take responsibility for the spiritual health of our nation — and make no mistake, whether we accept that responsibility or not, God Himself will hold us accountable. The pulpit inevitably sets the tone of the religious climate of the nation. A fearful church simply reflects fearful pastors. The silent pulpit is not God’s pulpit. We must bend when needed but never capitulate.

The Bible calls pastors “watchmen” who cry out and sound the alarm to awaken a sleeping church, not sing her lullabies. The prophet Isaiah, who doesn’t mince words about lazy watchmen, says they are blind and ignorant and that they are all dumb dogs who cannot bark (raise their voices to warn). They sleep and lie down, loving to slumber (see Isaiah 56:9).

At first glance, you may think this wording is too strong, but I can assure you that it is probably not strong enough. Backing away from speaking the truth in love is a serious offense against God. Silence about sin is rebelling against the call of God. If your sermons do not anger the world and challenge the lukewarm from time to time, you should seriously question your calling.

Few Spirit-filled preachers are left, and when one rises, he is quickly dismissed as too political and labeled narrow-minded, legalistic, and extreme.

The so-called evangelical church in our land is on the verge of having the Lord remove our lampstand because pastors are missing this incredible opportunity to take a bold stance (see Rev. 2:5). Silent shepherds are speaking volumes. Read more here.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blogs, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.