Milton admits that the primary work of pastors, like himself, is the gospel ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Prayer.  Fulfilling the role of shepherds, pastors are to be on watch to announce with clarity the enemies of truth who are storming the walls of our soul.  So pastors, who are being faithful, must stand in the gap and cry out for truth and godliness and condemn lies and immorality. 

Silent No More: A Biblical Call for the Church to Speak to State and Church, Michael A. Milton

“There is an imperative need for Christians to confront responsibly the controversial social issues of our society today” (John Stott). Milton uses this quote and resoundingly echoes it with his whole being and a hearty “Amen!”  Milton’s love of his God and country is deeply embedded in Silent No More.  He states that “it is the role of the pastor, the role of the Church, the role of the believer, to expose such [lies] and to offer a way out through Christ Jesus and His Word” (p.4).

It is with a pastor’s heart and a scholar’s mind that Milton identifies today’s issues with precision and sensibility. With a full array of credentials— Presbyterian pastor, seminary professor, and army reserve chaplain—Milton diagnoses the cultural maladies and prescribes biblical responses to them.  He writes as one qualified to address the need of the voices of Christians to be raised to faithfully proclaim truth in a land where there is a famine of truth.

Milton pens his short essays on a variety of topics to display the vast landscape of issues facing our nation and the Church.  He has done his homework as his voluminous footnotes prove.  He interacts with both secular and Christian viewpoints.  When many ministers retreat to their study, Milton is willing to run to charge the frontlines and engage the enemies of truth.

As a watchman he cries out to the Church to faithfully persevere to the end as she properly evaluates and courageously engages the culture.  He addresses the vast cultural hot topics from praying in Jesus name in public to homosexuality, to the Middle East, to public schools, and many more.

Milton admits that the primary work of pastors, like himself, is the gospel ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Prayer.  Fulfilling the role of shepherds, pastors are to be on watch to announce with clarity the enemies of truth who are storming the walls of our soul.  So pastors, who are being faithful, must stand in the gap and cry out for truth and godliness and condemn lies and immorality.  Since Christians cannot compartmentalize the Lordship of Christ Jesus to only one area of life or one day of the week, Milton passionately pleads that we can be silent no more.

As Christians seek to engage culture, they must be well-grounded in a biblical worldview that allows them to properly evaluate culture.  So, whether it is the topic of the environment, economy, education, the Christian views these through the lens of Scripture.  Milton believes that the Church can have a faithful gospel witness in the midst of our pluralistic culture by courageously proclaiming the one, true, and living truth of God.

By doing this we bear witness to King Jesus and proclaim his plan of salvation that is eternal and cosmic.  Milton is leading the charge for all Christians, especially pastors, as he calls us to pray and to proclaim God’s truth from his inspired, inerrant, infallible and authoritative Scriptures.

Silent No More desires to produce fruit from faithful Christ-followers who will be instruments of righteousness, and also desires that God will send a modern day revival in  the American Church that will rival the Great Awakening.

Kevin R. Collins is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as Director of Admissions at Reformed Seminary in Orlando, Fla.