Apocity: the Greatest Omission
“If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.” –Leviticus 5:1
Have you ever had the feeling you should say something in a situation but didn’t? In Leviticus chapter five we see a situation where that act can be classified as a sin of omission. The issue revolves around the withholding of evidence. While this is very practical to a court of law, as we can’t find justice with unwilling witnesses, it also has application in other areas of life. It is true that sometimes we should keep our mouth silent, especially if you are THAT person who tends to take over a conversation. Other times that is not the case.
A Sin of Omission
Specifically here we want to focus on a particular type of testimony all Christians have; our new life in Christ. Is withholding evidence of our testimony a sin? George Alvarado tackles this subject in his recent book Apocity: the Greatest Omission. You may be wondering to yourself, “What is Apocity?” When I first saw this title I had the same question…and my spell-checker is still wondering. However to tackle this question, the act of not sharing ones faith needed a name; this name, according to George, is apocity.
George spends considerable time detailing whether or not apocity is a sin that must be dealt in our lives, through Old Testament and New Testament evidence, modern excuses, and by defining what exactly is meant by the gift of evangelism. George handles this topic with down to earth and easy to understand illustrations and examples. So the big question is…is not testifying about your faith in Christ a sin? Well, you’ll have to read the book and make your decision. How’s that for a teaser.
If you have been contemplating an omission in your own life by failing to share Christ when opportunities arrive or if you are on the other side of the spectrum as an experienced evangelist this book is worthy of reading. You are bond to learn something new you can apply directly to your own life.
Copies are available at WaterSources Ministries and the publisher’s site at Tract Planet.
Footnotes:
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation, 3rd ed. (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007), Le 5:1.