Like many of you, I have been processing a lot over these last few days. A few things have stood out to me. I’ve seen death and life, joy and sadness, fear and anger, both in the world and in the Body of Christ, and through it all, one truth keeps echoing in my heart: there is a cost to discipleship.
Yes, following Jesus comes at a cost. That cost takes different forms: rejection, loss, misunderstanding, mockery, isolation, and sometimes even death. It has caused me to ask myself if I’ve been truly willing to pay it. Because Jesus never promised comfort, applause, or safety. He promised a cross. He said plainly: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Those words are not poetic; they are costly. They are a summons to die to ourselves, to die to fear, and to live boldly for Him, no matter the consequences.
When I look at the early church, I cannot ignore the reality that nearly all of the apostles were killed for their faith. Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded. Thomas was speared to death. James was executed by the sword. The only one who did not die by martyrdom was John, yet even he was tortured and exiled after they tried to boil him alive unsuccessfully, I might add.
These men did not follow Jesus because it was popular. They did not preach the gospel because it gave them influence, a shiny platform with accolades, or a monetized social media page. They followed Him because He was and still is totally worth it. They refused to be silent, and their testimony turned the world upside down.
So here I am asking myself, what’s my excuse? What’s our excuse? I live in a time when I can post truth with a few keystrokes, share my faith in everyday conversations, and worship freely without fear of execution, or so I thought, and yet how often do I hesitate? How often do I shrink back because I don’t want to be misunderstood, rejected, or labeled? Saints, the Word of God is clear: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory” (Luke 9:26).
Listen to me, please! There should never be such a thing as a silent believer. To remain silent in the face of darkness is to give it room to grow. To be silent when sin is celebrated is to let deception win by default. Know this: the gospel was never meant to be hidden. Jesus Himself said: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Light that hides is no light at all. Salt that loses its flavor is useless.
So, I’ve come to a turning point in my own life. I cannot remain silent. Not anymore. I cannot let fear of people’s opinions, fear of physical retaliation, weigh heavier than the fear of God. I cannot keep quiet while this generation is being discipled by the culture instead of by Christ. The gospel demands a voice. The Spirit within us compels us to speak.
Just like in Acts 4, when Peter and John were commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, their response was simple: “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). That is the posture I must take. Of course, let’s not be reckless. It’s not about chasing platforms or building influence for the sake of being known. If we chase influence without accountability and prayer, we will only expose the pride and vanity in our hearts. What I’m talking about is being led by the Spirit, boldly, humbly, prayerfully. It’s about staying rooted in the Word, surrounded by other saints or those who have walked this path longer than we have, who will keep us accountable, and standing firm in the truth regardless of what it costs.
The truth is, the cost of silence is greater than the cost of persecution. If I stay quiet, I may save my comfort for a season, but I lose my witness. If I remain silent, I may keep my reputation, but I forfeit the chance to see lives transformed. Silence in the Church has already given too much ground to the enemy, and I believe God is calling us, calling me, calling you, to reclaim that ground by speaking and living the truth in love.
We can no longer wait for the “right time.” The right time is now. The world is searching and crying out for a hope that becomes harder and harder to see every day, the longer we stay silent. People are desperate for truth and freedom, whether they realize it or not, and God has entrusted that message to us. Paul wrote in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” That same gospel that saved you and me is the gospel that can save others, but only if we are willing to open our mouths.
So, here’s where I stand:
I will not be silent.
I will not be ashamed.
I will not bow to cultural pressure.
I will not trade truth for comfort.
I will not choose silence over obedience.
I will not hide my faith in the face of death
Instead, I choose to speak as the Spirit leads. I choose to stand even if it costs me friends, family, opportunities, reputation, or my life. I choose to endure whatever opposition comes, because I know Jesus is worth it.
Family, it’s time. It’s time to rise up again with boldness. It’s time to take our place as witnesses. It’s time to let the gospel disrupt the lies of our culture. It’s time to turn the world upside down again, not with anger or arrogance, but with the unstoppable truth of Jesus Christ. No matter the cost. Come what may. I cannot be silent, and neither can you.
“This is our turning point.”
