Sinister Silence

"I have yet to speak on God's behalf... Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee" (Job 36:2,18).  "LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear" (Psalm 10:17).  "Open rebuke is better than secret love" (Proverbs 27:5).  "Be it known unto you all... Jesus Christ... is the Stone which was set at naught of you builders... there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12). 

We have a message to declare

Which we convey on God's behalf.

Because there's wrath, we say "beware",

Though mockers scornfully may laugh. 

Because our Lord and Savior died

To pay our ransom on His cross,

God's justice has been satisfied

To spare us from eternal loss. 

Our silence, therefore, is not kind

(Though by the mocker, it's preferred),

For sinners with a humble mind

May hear the Gospel from God's Word. 

The Word of God imparts reproof

Which openly rebukes our sin. 

Though some may choose to stand aloof,

The humble let the Savior in. 

With kindness let us now proclaim

The Gospel given from above!

We're saved by Christ, no other name;

There is no place for "secret love."

Is not our silence sinister

To souls we should be cherishing? 

Should not we rather minister

The Gospel to the perishing?

We thank You, Lord, for our salvation

And for the Gospel that we carry

As we announce its proclamation

Which bids the sinner not to tarry. 

Because we know that there is wrath,

How sinister does silence seem!

Lord, use our voice upon our path

To draw the souls You would redeem.