When Good Men Are Silent

When Good Men Stay Silent

Several months ago, we had a one-session class based on the famous quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” While the quote’s context pertained to society as a whole, we need to be mindful of that warning within the church as well. As the world around us increases its attacks not just on faith, but on the very definitions of good and love, our apparent tendency to remain quiet strengthens the effectiveness of those attacks. Scripture, especially the book of James, speaks clearly to this issue.

The faithful have a responsibility to act when they become aware of wrongdoing or see a need. In James 4:17, the writer tells us, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Obviously, society’s issues demand our attention, but we often need to start closer to home. When our Bible classes struggle to find teachers and our worship is challenged for lack of men to serve, it doesn’t matter how willing we are to speak out against the nation’s godlessness.

You see, the word of God calls us to action, not just avoidance. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” is the instruction in Romans 12:21. It commands us not to give in to the evil around us, but to use our good works (be active), guided by Scripture, to defeat the evil around us. This important instruction is what makes the comparison game so dangerous. You know what I’m talking about. That rationalization that enables us to say, “Hey, at least I’m not as bad as so-and-so.” We can’t be proud of ourselves for avoiding specific sins when, by our inaction, we fail to truly resist the negative influences that get louder each day.

James chapter 2 makes it clear that inaction invalidates a claim of faith. In verse 17, we are told: “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” And then in verse 26, he writes, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. If we say we have faith, but we are willing to do nothing, then we are lying to ourselves. Those lies then reach out and become obvious to those around us. It is possible, and quite likely, that simply going through the motions of attending worship and occasionally showing up for Bible study are merely shallow performances that have little bearing on our lives. In fact, such a mask of faith weakens us and those we influence.

When good people stay silent, evil not only prevails; it also gains the conditions it needs to thrive and grow. Today, our culture suffers under this reality, but that distress is compounded by congregations of the Lord’s church weakened by inactivity and indifference. That weakness then migrates to our families and us. Praise God that the church will stand forever; now, inspire yourself to contribute to that triumph.

Personal Branding

MKM Branding

After more than 35 years in marketing, communications and design, your professional identity can become both your greatest asset and your greatest limitation. Years of experience provide knowledge, perspective and a record of accomplishments that younger professionals simply cannot replicate. Yet experience can also create a perception that you belong to a particular job title, industry or type of work. As a career evolves, personal branding becomes a way to communicate not only what you have done, but what you are capable of doing next.

Personal branding is more than just creating a polished résumé or maintaining a LinkedIn profile; for experienced professionals, it is a strategic way to highlight your unique value and differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape. At its core, it is intentionally defining and communicating your professional value. It answers a simple question: What do people think of when they think of you professionally?

For someone with decades of experience, the answer should evoke confidence in your strengths — so more than a list of job titles. Perhaps you are a strategic thinker, creative problem-solver, storyteller, communicator, mentor, designer or someone who can connect ideas, people and technology. Highlighting these capabilities can remain valuable even when the specific role changes.

This becomes particularly important as a long career begins to diversify. You may move from full-time employment into consulting, freelance work, teaching, nonprofit involvement, writing, speaking, mentoring or creative projects. These activities may appear unrelated if viewed through the lens of traditional job titles. A strong personal brand provides the common thread.

The goal is not to reinvent yourself. It is to reframe your experience.

Your decades of experience should demonstrate adaptability and ongoing progress. The technologies, platforms and techniques may have changed dramatically, but the fundamental abilities to understand an audience, communicate effectively, solve problems and create meaningful experiences remain relevant.

It is also important to avoid allowing age to become the defining characteristic of your professional identity. Experience should communicate wisdom, credibility and perspective—not resistance to change. Continue learning. Experiment with new tools. Understand emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and new approaches to communication and design. You do not have to compete with younger professionals by becoming younger. You compete by bringing something different: experience combined with curiosity.

Another important consideration is authenticity. A personal brand should not become a carefully manufactured persona. The most effective professional brands grow naturally from what you have consistently demonstrated throughout your career. Look back at the projects, relationships and accomplishments that have mattered most. Patterns will emerge. Those patterns are the foundation of your brand and help build trust with your audience.

Finally, remember that the later stages of a career can be an opportunity, not a conclusion. You have accumulated something valuable: knowledge you can apply in new ways. Personal branding helps others recognize that value.

Your next professional chapter does not have to fit neatly into the job titles of your past. Your brand can be broad enough to accommodate new interests while staying firmly grounded in the credibility you have earned over decades.

The objective is not to convince people that you are still who you were 35 years ago. It is to show them why everything you have learned over those 35 years makes you particularly valuable today.