Silence Can Be Sinful, Vol. 2, by Winford Claiborne
David R. Kenney
Oliver Goldsmith wrote, “Silence gives consent.” This is the thrust of brother Claiborne’s follow-up work to his book, Silence Can Be Sinful. (2002). Are we speaking out against the evils in our society and promoting Christian views? If we are not, who do we think will? If we need fortification to motivate us to speak out for Christianity, we should read and meditate upon the Introduction of this book. If one needs fortification to equip him to do so, then this volume is “a must” for reading.
Brother Claiborne is well known for his vast reading and research on a variety of social, religious, historic, and other pertinent issues. The fruits of his labors are manifested on each radio broadcast he makes on the International Gospel Hour. (There is also a web site, www.gospelhour.net, that contains manuscripts and audio files from the program, as well.)
This work addresses several challenges we face as a nation: Issues such as macroevolution, eugenics, racism, illegal immigration, cohabitation, alcohol, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, homosexuality, government corruption, media corruption, marriage, and the sanctity of life. This volume provides excellent material that is well worth the effort to read and share with others when we have opportunity to discuss these issues. My concern is that we are more apt to remain silent than speak out as we have opportunity. Think how much better our nation could be if people spoke out more for God. I have heard reports of a “silent majority” which was believed to be morally conservative. This is sad, not that they are conservative but that they are silent. Hopefully, that will change. This work will well equip one to speak more effectively.
One of my favorite chapters is “Pesky Bible Verses,” where Claiborne quotes a religious advocate for homosexuality attacking scriptures forbidding their chosen lifestyle as “those pesky Bible verses.” Brother Claiborne uses the concept of “pesky Bible verses” against other areas of concern. For example, brother Claiborne writes concerning the Sermon on the Mount: “How do you suppose a liberal theologian reacts to these well-known words from Christ’s great sermon: ‘Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life, and few there are who find it.’? (Matthew 7:13-14). These verses give bushels of trouble to liberal theologians like Robin Meyers. They are unquestionably ‘pesky Bible verses’ for all Universalists.” (Page 75).
Another suggested use for this material is to share it with our young people. Parents want to shield their children from the harsh and evil realities of the world for as long as they can; however, there comes a time when they must be equipped to face the world. They need to be made aware of the issues they will encounter, how to respond to them, and how to fight efforts to move such evils into the mainstream in various ways, including proposed laws. They need to have the resources to make effective arguments against the forces that would destroy our nation. –29 Flora Dr., Bedford, OH 44146-2011. For additional book reviews, visit http://www.drkenney.blogspot.com/