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.
