Silent Watchdogs

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Isaiah 56:10 KJV

Why are many Christian leaders not speaking to the important issues in our society? At a time when there are so many pressing matters such as the rioting and violence in our streets, attacks on our police, cultural marxism, homosexuality, pervasive pornography, and the exploitation of children, many pulpits have gone silent. Yet it is imperative that God’s people hear what the Word of God says about the issues of the day.

The main role of a watchdog is to warn of danger. Yet the watchdogs are strangely silent these days. For example, take the denomination I’m currently in, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). SBC leaders in large part have been afraid to speak out on a myriad of issues. And when they do, it’s often for left-wing causes that are currently en vogue.

Leaders like SBC President JD Greear and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore rarely speak out in support of our brave police officers, even when they are attacked. They’ve also said very little about the innocent victims of riots and anarchy in cities like Minneapolis, Portland, New York City, Seattle, Chicago, and Kenosha. In fact, it seems they often slam America and side with the bad guys.

Despite the LGBT takeover of our society, they rarely speak Biblical truth about homosexuality. In fact, JD Greear gave a terrible sermon in January in which he minimized that sin by implying that God whispers about it.

So why the silence on the issues du jour? Could it be that these leaders see themselves as academic and cultural elites with much prestige and they don’t want to lose their acceptance in the club? Instead of seeking to be faithful to the truth, they seek popularity and the praises of men.

Leaders like Russell Moore will often criticize conservatives for their “tone.” Basically, Moore gets triggered when anyone speaks the truth on cultural issues. Frankly, we are tired of being made out to be the bad guys for speaking the truth while our leaders remain silent in order to evade criticism or retribution.

Many of us feel ignored and disrespected. We’ve talked to our leaders. Sometimes they won’t even respond. And when they do respond, it’s often difficult to get a straight answer. Moore, for example, is known for his word salad answers in response to questions by messengers at the SBC annual meeting.

The silence from Christian leaders on issues that matter is not without consequences. It has led to a lack of discernment amongst God’s people. Many Christians have gotten sucked into unbiblical organizations and activities. Take Black Lives Matter (BLM), for example. It’s a Marxist organization with anti-Christian, anti-capitalist, and anti-family beliefs. Yet how many Christians have you seen or heard supporting BLM? I’ve seen several. Could that be because their pastor has not spoken to the issue and let his congregation know that this is an organization that they should not be a part of? The silence of the watchdogs have led to the lies of the Left being accepted in churches all across America.

Jesus said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Solomon said in Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” And the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:15 that we should be “speaking the truth in love.”

Why then do our Christian leaders seem to have so little regard for the truth that they are afraid to speak it, but instead prefer the praises of men?

The watchdogs have failed us. They have not barked to alert us to danger. They have preached a popular message instead of a prophetic one.

It is now incumbent upon us to be our own watchdogs. We must know the Word of God ourselves. We can’t depend upon others to speak it to us.

The prophet Amos said, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.” People are hungry for the Word of God. The sad thing is that it is readily available to those who would seek for it. But we need the shepherds to be willing to speak it to their flocks. When they fail to do so, the flock is tempted to think that the truth is not important.