It’s not my thing, man!
“If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible. Leviticus 5:1 (NIV)”
From what I deduced from this verse, the request to bring information could be understood from three perspectives.
- To assist the authorities to solve a mystery e.g. a crime by providing any information that would be helpful to an investigation
- To support someone a neighbor, a colleague or family who has been accused of some wrongdoing.
- To share wisdom or knowledge for public good. (maybe a stretch, bear with me)
In considering the first and second perspectives, culturally speaking, for many of us, the call to speak up (i.e. to testify) is a big No! NO!!
We may say stuff like, “Man, it’s not my thing” or “Yo, we don’t talk to no cops, aight?”, or “We nah work wid Babylon system.”
And so, we incur guilt from keeping silent and so sin against a Holy God who has instituted the governing systems and also allocated to all humans their place of dwelling.
In thinking that we are minding our own business, we indirectly assist the perpetrators. “The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify” (Prov 29:24).
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Psalm 50 warns about a type of cultural religion that assumes God will understand that this is how we roll, this is how we do things on the street. It says to us “If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.” (Psalms 50:18) and “When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.” (Psalm 50:21)
We all have seen and heard things in the past and are guilty of not speaking up when we knew we should have. When we have been guilty and had received a notice to testify, we all have baulked at the opportunity to confess our sins and come out to face justice, and we have also supported our friends, neighbors and colleagues to escape justice as well.
We thought we were just being smart and good neighbors and did not know we were offending God.
Rom 6:21 is asking all of us, what benefit are we getting from this sinful culture which we as believers, members of the congregation of the saints should by now be ashamed of.
We know that God was not pleased with our sinful culture, and that is why in love, He sent his only son to die on the cross for us, so that we may not perish for the many sins we are guilty of, even this sin of refusing to testify.
Friends, Christ has brought us out of the system of that darkness into His marvelous light, He has adopted us into his church. He is the son of God, the God of truth and we are his children, and we must walk in light and in truth.
Now that we are walking with Christ and now men and women of truth, would it be a stretch of this text if I ask the following:
- Is the great commission from Christ a public charge to testify (Yes or No)
- Would it be for the good of the public (Yes or No)
- Would we be held responsible for not testifying about it (Yes or No)
The Grace of our Lord Jesus be with us all. Amen
