2 Corinthians 4:13 “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”

Over the past few weeks I have been hearing a lot about the “spiral of silence” and decided that I would do some research and see what it is all about and how it pertains to us.

Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann was a German political scientist who came up with the ‘spiral of silence’ that gave an explanation of how public opinion can influence individual opinions or actions. For example, in 1991 support was measured for the Gulf War. The researchers wanted to know if the support was a consensus view or did media coverage contribute to a spiral of silence that dampened opposition to the war? They concluded that those who watched television and sensed that the public supported the war were more likely to support the war as well. They found that this study supports the ‘spiral of silence,’ that people can be swayed by public opinion rather than face social isolation.

Wikipedia says: “The phrase “spiral of silence” actually refers to how people tend to remain silent when they feel that their views are in the minority. The model is based on three premises: 1) people have a “quasi-statistical organ,” a sixth-sense if you will, which allows them to know the prevailing public opinion, even without access to polls, 2) people have a fear of isolation and know what behaviors will increase their likelihood of being socially isolated, and 3) people are reticent to express their minority views, primarily out of fear of being isolated.”

This brings out several things that we need to consider.

First, even if we are in the minority (or think that we are) we must speak the truth and not what is “politically correct.” I am afraid God’s people have been too silent when it comes to expressing God’s truth. Instead of allowing people who are opposed to God’s truth shaping public opinion we, the church, should be the shakers and shapers of society.

Secondly, we know that Satan has divided this world into little kingdoms (or one could call them prisons) and the bars that hold people in are not made out of steel, but acceptance and rejection. These are the needs that every human being has – to be accepted and not face rejection or isolation. We want people to be released from these prisons and be able to enter the Kingdom of God. This is what the Gospel is all about. We read in Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

All our needs have been met in Christ.

Thirdly, we need to do what Paul told the Corinthian church to do and that is to examine their faith. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 3:5 (KJV) Is our faith a preference or a conviction? There is a difference between the two. We see this coming out in Daniel 3 with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were confronted with the fiery furnace.

Public opinion was to bow down and give allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar by falling down and worshipping the statue that he built. This was a classic example of the ‘spiral of silence.’ We see that these three men were willing to speak out, face the consequences and give God the glory. At the end, we see the results: “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.’”

We might not be faced with a fiery furnace, but on many issues, we will be faced with public opinion. The question is: Will the ‘spiral of silence’ kick in or will we speak out. We do not need to speak out in an argumentative way, but we should speak from our conviction and from our study to show ourselves approved unto God like we read in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” (2 Corinthians 4:13) Paul was saying, he knows that what he believes is real and because it is real – he speaks. So, it should be with us.

Someone said: “Christians today are in danger of being sucked into such a ‘spiral of silence.’ But this is not inevitable. We can break the ‘spiral of silence’ (1) if we are really persuaded of the truth of the Gospel and the Christian worldview, and (2) if we will simply begin to speak up when opportunities arise, trusting the Lord to use our words as He will.” (Luke 12:8-12)

May God give us the boldness and courage to stand, and to be accountable.

Remember the words of Thomas Jefferson: “Reformation in government follows reformation in opinions.” Let us speak up and get God’s truth and opinions out in the public square!

A belief one supposedly has is either a preference or a conviction. A preference can be a strong belief and with that belief go into full time service, being a teacher, pastor or even a missionary. It can be a strong belief and give all of our wealth to it and be energetic in proselytizing others into it as well as teach our children our belief. With all of this it can still only be a preference, something we prefer to believe, or that we are pressured into believing. We might prefer it over some other religion, but that is all it is. The reason it is a preference is because it can be changed when enough pressure is applied.

We see in Daniel chapter 3 that King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue and commanded all to bow down and worship when they heard the sound of a music instrument. Pressure can come through peer pressure, family, jail or prison and persecution. We see this with Shadrach, Meshed and Abednego and the pressure applied to them by King Nebuchadnezzar. What would I do if faced with a burning furnace? Would I recant, or would I be like the three men and be willing to die for what I believe in?

What we see with these three men is what a conviction really is. There are several issues that come out showing what a conviction is. The first thing that stands out with these three men is when the pressure of the fiery furnace stands before them and they did not change their belief. They told Nebuchadnezzar, after he gave them a chance to change their mind: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Another aspect of conviction that stands out with these three men was that they were willing to stand alone. These three men did not bow. There were other Jews in the city, what were they doing? They were bowing. If we need other people with us before we stand then our belief is a preference instead of a conviction. A belief that is a conviction is non-negotiable. A belief that is a conviction is God given; it is part of one’s life.

Nebuchadnezzar gave these 3 men a second chance. “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?’’ Daniel 3:13-15

One last aspect that stands out to me in this passage of Scripture regarding these three men is that they did not need to be assured of success before they took their stand. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

A question that comes: How do we know if our belief is a preference or a conviction? The answer is our life style. Conviction will show up in how we live our daily lives. James tells us: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14) We are not saved by works, but where there is real faith (conviction) it will be seen in how we live, spend money, our time, etc.

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us: “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12) The word for sluggish could also be translated as lazy, stupid, slothful. One could continue in Hebrews 11 looking at those we should imitate like Noah, Abraham, Moses and others who were stoned, sawn into, wandered and lived in caves, destitute, but kept a good testimony through faith. The characteristic that stands out in their life style is obedience and sacrifice.

We are coming to the climax of the ages and there is a need for men/women of conviction who will take their stand no matter what.

Genesis 42:36 “Their father Jacob said to them, ‘You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!’”

When we look at the end of Jacob’s life, we see how he thought that everything was against him, that this was not only for his good, but for the good of the world. The one thing that we see with Jacob is that he was a complainer.

It is said in Jewish wisdom that God gave the Patriarchs a life span of 180 years. However, we see that Abraham fell short of that time by five years, maybe to spare him the agony of seeing his grandson Esau leave the faith. Abraham’s son, Isaac, lived out his 180 years, but Jacob died at a relatively young age of 147. What happened?

The Hebrew word for complaining is ‘mitlonen.’ Verbs convey meaning in God’s language and some verbs are reflexive which is something that we do to ourselves. These verbs most usually start with the prefix MIT, which brings out that you do something to yourself. In others words, complaining is not something you do to other people, but you do to yourself. People who have a habit of complaining are really causing harm to themselves.

The book “Switch on Your Brain” by Caroline Leaf, basically brings out the same thought that we should be thinking or making choices for life, and not for death, or like Paul says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Dr. Caroline Leaf says in her book that your brain controls your body, but your mind controls your brain. Are our thoughts filled with hatred and complaining, or are they filled with the thoughts Paul is bringing out in Philippians 4:8? Either way our thoughts will affect our body and one place where it will begin to show is on our face.

It is said that a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln brought to him a possible member for the cabinet and after being interviewed by the president he was rejected. When the friend asked why Abraham Lincoln said: “I did not like his face.” The friend replied: “What does the face have to do with it in filling the job, he is not responsible for his face.” Lincoln replied: “Yes, for the first forty years of his life he isn’t, but after forty his face is him.”

When Jacob found out that Joseph was alive and both Simeon and Benjamin were safe, Jacob was glad and decided to go to Egypt. When he arrived, Joseph introduced him to Pharaoh and Pharaoh said: “How old are you.” (Genesis 47:8) What an interesting question. He did not ask about his journey or seeing his son after he thought he was dead, but how old are you. What is the thinking in back of that question? Could it be that Jacob looked far older than his years and his faced showed it?

We all can remember seeing elderly people whose faces radiated life and happiness. Elderly people that saw life has a great adventure and when circumstances came their way that they had no control over, they did not complain, but made the choice to make the most of it

What does your face show?

ENERGY

God says in Leviticus 26:19: “And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass.” And in Deuteronomy 28:23: “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.” The word for brass is ‘nechosheth’ and could be translated as ‘copper.’

We notice in these two rebukes to Israel that these elements of iron and copper are used by Israel, but they are changed in location. Leviticus says that “heaven is iron” and “earth as brass,” but in Deuteronomy it is just the opposite, with heaven being brass and earth being iron.

The context for these statements is about God’s judgment upon His people for turning away from Him and going after their own lusts and desires. I look at this verse in three ways:

First, no rain and the earth dries up; secondly, heaven is like copper so that prayers do not get through to God, but the third thing that I find interesting is that the two elements (iron and copper) are separated from one another.

Rabbi Lappin said if you put a copper nail and an iron nail into a lemon it would produce enough electricity to light a small light bulb, but the copper and the iron need to be in proximity to one another to achieve this. But here we see judgment or curse from God with the two elements separated. In other words, there is no energy.

Why is this so important for us today? It is energy that has given us a resourceful life, an escape out of drudgery. It is energy that gives us the life style that we enjoy today. Think about how cars have given us flexibility to travel, visit family, electricity to light our homes, machines to help build businesses, etc. We could go on as to describe how energy has given us the practical things that we have today. We get energy in wood, coal, oil, uranium, just to name a few resources, and in the days ahead there will be even more discoveries of energy that we do not know at this time.

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God, we too have a creative spirit. I think of the ingenuity of man that has given to us what we have today using all that God has put in the earth, and already we are now beginning to see things like electric cars. Those who have them would not go back to what they had before.

I have been listening to the “NEW GREEN DEAL” being put out by the progressive party, and I have to ask myself if this is a blessing from God, or a curse? To me it would be a curse because in the New Green Deal they are wanting to ‘separate the copper and iron’ (get rid of the oil, coal, etc.) and we know from the wisdom in God’s Word that these resources are for energy.

We know from reading these passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that the separation of the copper and iron was because of the declining morality of God’s people.

Just recently we heard 29-year-old socialist and former bartender, Democratic Congresswoman from New York’s 14^th district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said: “The world is gonna end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change.”

I agree that the world is coming to a climax, and not because of climate change, but because God is bringing things to a head to achieve His great purpose. However, what bothers me is how so many people could clap at her statement that is so very nonsensical. Here is her statement:

“Millennial’s, and people and – and generation Z, and all these folks that come after us, are looking up, and were like, ‘the world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change,’ and your biggest issue is – YOUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS, how are we going to PAY for it?!”

When an audience begins to clap for a statement like that it reveals how successful climate change has caught on to people lacking the truth.

Now when I see some of the top runners for president in the Democratic party embracing this nonsense – there is a deep concern. Hosea comes to mind: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

We, as God’s people, should be at the forefront when it comes to the environment. We are called to be stewards with what God has given us. Right now, He has given us viable resources: wood, oil, natural gas, coal, iron, uranium, etc. to put to use and make our lives easier and more productive. In the future, there will be new inventions, and more discoveries of things God has given us to use and be good stewards of. But, we also have a warning from God that if we turn our backs on Him, He will use His created things against us.

We, who are Christ followers have a tremendous responsibility. The admonition from the Apostle Paul is of great importance: “Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle — I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying — a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.’ (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

Keep in mind Ephesians 6:10-19 that instructs us to pray with the full armor of God on because of the evil day we live in; and to stay ALERT, praying for God’s people, praying with all kinds of prayers and requests of God. Never stop praying!