Why You Can't Stay Silent: A Biblical Mandate to Shape Our Culture (Focus on the Family)

by Tom Minnery

Book Overview

Minnery proposes an alternative view to Christians withdrawing from the political arena. He challenges Christians to engage themselves in the culture and use their God-given gifts to be positive... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561799254
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Focus on the Family
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

faulty logic is built into the title

The phrase which makes up the title, why you can't stay silent, has a flaw, IMHO. I have 0 problem with the exhortation by TM for us to speak out. I call your attention to what seems IMHO to be a fault in logic. The title phrase 'why you can't stay silent' appears to include an error in thinking. Let's say that it is true that one cannot stay silent. Fine. OK. I'm not silent. I'm speaking out. I claim that I cannot remain silent. True or not (that I must-not, ought-not, should-not stay silent), fact remains that I am not silent. The silence does not exist. It's not going on. What IS going on is the speaking out. You ask me (why) to give you a reason FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST (my silence). There isn't any silence going on, and you're telling me to explain the WHY of the fact that it doesn't exist. ?How come there isn't any silence? Yes, I can say WHY speaking out makes sound/waves, since the sound exists, and since sound has a source (my mouth or typewriter). As to having to give the 'reason' (why) for something that doesn't EXIST (silence), I do not have a way to 'explain'/answer your why with a justification of the existence of something (silence) that does not exist. The word why presupposes that something exists (the silence, or the ability to remain silent), and that another ought to 'explain': why can't you (whatever), or why isn't there (silence/whatever). How can something that doesn't exist have a reason for it's NON- existence? Fine and dandy that you should tell me to shut up or that I ought to speak out, but for you to expect me to 'explain' (the cause behind something that never happened) is to ask me a real word 'why' in a phrase that has an equally real word 'not'. Why not? I could be there like Ralph Kramden all day. I cannot. Why not? Red flag. Instead of trying to answer/justify something that doesn't-exist/never-happened, the comment (not a reply to a faulty question) could either be an explanation of why there IS a speaking out or why one SHOULD remain-silent/continue-to-speak I think that a more logical or suitable title for a revised book would be something like 'Why One Should/Must Speak Out', or else 'Why Remain Idle When There Is Work to be Done'. The WHY invites an explanation of something or some activity/condition that IS, not non-existent. Q.: Why didn't you? A.: What? Better that the challenge be YOU OUGHT TO or YOU SHOULD be able to (an opinion). Satan tries to screw up logic by using the word IF about things that DON'T EXIST. When you then try to answer a question having IF as a presupposition, you talk about something nonexistent. It doesn't exist. Never did. Ain't gonna. And yet IF makes it real. Re-read Genesis 3, Matthew 4, Luke 4. IF 3x. Unreal like Why Not

Biblical, Balanced Approach to Witnessing

This book broadens the Christian's view of witnessing, restoring it to a biblical perspective. For many years, believers have been misled to separate their influence upon souls from their influence upon society. The former has been encouraged, while the latter has been seen as undesirable. Minnery restores the biblical and historical balance by admonishing the church today to be both salt and light in a fallen world. The author emphasizes that for too long the church has remained silent regarding the moral decay surrounding it. While political involvement and social action are not the only means to make a difference, they are important means that believers have neglected in the last several decades. This book is a must-read for all Christians who desire to have a balanced, biblical approach to the society around them.

Worldly issues not witnessing

The reason I bought this book was to inspire me to witness to other people. But this book does not do that at all- only because that is not its intentions. What this book is intended to do is convince people to speak up against government injustices and apocryphal issues (Ex. abortion). And that it does well. The author actually does convince you of reasons not to "stay silent". I believe these issues are very important in the community of Christians and I recommend this book if you want to stand up for what you believe in and take matters in your own hands. It even gives specifically examples of people who made a small protest against unapproved actions by the state/nation, not trying to make a controversy over it but ends ups gathering protesters around the nation to put an end to- what was in this case a very detestable magazine providing material of unhealthy sex talk for young girls. So it can not only show you why you should, but it also can help you lead protests (even over smaller issues) in your community/nation, when issues with bad values show up.

Get ready to get active.

Minnery does such a great job basing Christian activism in Biblical and historical realities that you won't be able to sit silently anymore. I devoured the book in a few hours and I can't wait to encounter the world and win a victory for Christians.

It's time to make a difference

Tom Minnery believes that Christians not only have a mandate to proclaim the gospel, but to see it exemplified in society as well. He believes that we are not really forced with choosing one or the other: either evangelize or do social reform. He says we can and should do both simultaneously. He rightly argues that meeting people's basic needs (of food, shelter, clothing, jobs, etc.) is part of what it means to be salt and light in the world. And such activities also make the gospel message much more palatable, much more believable, much more acceptable.And the history of the Christian church is full of examples of the use of a whole gospel to meet the needs of whole people. Wherever missionaries went they did good deeds as they preached the good news. Hospitals were built, women and children were ministered to, hunger was dealt with, schools and job opportunities were developed, prison and work conditions were improved, and so on. It is exactly because so many Christians treated people as whole beings, not just souls to be saved, that so many people were in fact saved.For example, many people became Christians in the early days of the church because of these acts of mercy and compassion. When a plague or pestilence swept through an area, most people would flee. But it was the Christians who stayed behind, ministering to the sick and needy. Many thousands of conversions took place as a result.In this book Minnery, from Focus on the Family, provides examples of great saints whose lives were a testimony to many, not just because of the words they spoke but because of their actions as well. He looks at Theodore Weld, the Christian anti-slavery activist who made such an impact in nineteenth century America. He also examines the remarkable life of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army in England. The number of souls saved and people whose lives were changed for the better as a result of his ministry numbered well into the thousands. London saw a radical transformation because of this Christian work. The help given to the city's many prostitutes, for example, is a powerful and moving story. And practical help offered to the poor and homeless by the Salvos over a century ago still provides inspiration and instruction for Christian workers today.Other history makers and social transformers are discussed, such as the Wesleys and William Wilberforce. Their inspiring stories demonstrate what a handful of people can do when empowered by the spirit and motivated by Christ's compassion. Not only are souls saved but whole societies are transformed.And as Minnery makes clear, the opposition such world-changers receive does not come simply from unbelievers. Often the greatest critics of these men and women of God were other believers who thought their zeal to change the world was misplaced and misdirected. Many thought they should just preach a simple gospel, and forget about slavery, prostitution and other social ills. But these saints persevered, and