Sin of Omission

The Irish statesman Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” The same concern also drove the ministry of Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), a German Lutheran pastor and anti-Nazi theologian. He initially supported Hitler but soon became an outspoken opponent of the Nazis’ Aryan propaganda, anti-Semitism, and state control of the churches.

He was imprisoned in concentration camps from 1937 to 1945 and barely escaped execution. He died on March 6, 1984, at ninety-two.

Niemöller wrote a famous poem about the cowardice of German intellectuals following the Nazis’ rise to power and successive purging of specific target groups. During his career, the Lutheran pastor created different versions of his poem, but the best-known reads as follows: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me —and there was no one left to speak for me.19 Jesus said, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 16:52). Ellen White, commenting on this statement, says, “We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our talents God holds us responsible. We shall be judged according to what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God.” Those who try to please everyone by not taking a clear stand on crucial matters can end up offending everyone and being left without any to speak on their behalf.

The sin of omission includes not speaking against evil as we must and not acting for good as we are expected. May the Lord grant us the wisdom to always speak the right words —without overstating or understating them— and always act as He desires us to.