Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 18-19, 2026
“Something to Say” Isaiah 44:6-8
Curt Engle Ascension Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado
“Evil is everywhere”—those are the opening words of a recent song. But are they true?
When we turn to Scripture, we see that evil is everywhere. Evil is not new. It was present in the garden, when humanity first chose rebellion over obedience. It filled the earth in the days of Noah. It was there when Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers; it was in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when they were judged; and was in the hands of those who nailed our Lord to the cross.
So, what about now? Is evil still with us today?
If we take an honest look around, it is hard to deny it. Evil confronts us in our culture, seeps into our institutions, and—most uncomfortably—reveals itself in our own hearts. In that sense, it is not an exaggeration to say that “evil is everywhere.”
So how can we have confidence? How do we keep fear from silencing us when we are called to witness about Jesus in the midst of yet another crooked and evil generation?
Let’s identify the source of our fear: what exactly are we afraid of? Why do we remain silent, hesitant, and afraid to bear witness? For many of us, one of the deepest fears is rejection—the painful possibility of hearing “no,” not only directed toward Jesus, but toward us as His followers. We risk alienating others and finding ourselves isolated.
A few years ago, I started to include video devotions on my Facebook page. It was interesting to see my so-called friends disappear one by one.
In our actual social life, certain people may not wish to associate with us if we witness to them. I tried to share my faith on the golf course with some players whom I met with once a week. I was mysteriously dropped from the email list. Should I have regrets? Should I fear the next opportunity to witness to this evil generation?
Some say that this is the worst time to be a Christian. What about when they used to feed Christians to the lions? As we’ve already determined, evil isn’t something new.
In our text for today from Isaiah, evil was in the form of idolatry. It had gotten so bad that God was fed up. He had had enough of these people. In fact, He called all idolaters into the courtroom: “Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.” This is not a casual debate; it’s divine courtroom language. “Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.” God mockingly orders the devotees of a god besides him to act as witnesses on behalf of their idol. God orders this testimony in a mocking way because He knows they have nothing. They will be silent.
In contrast we have everything! We have something to say! And in our Isaiah text, God tells us to say it: “Fear not…you are my witnesses!” (Isaiah 44:8). The Lord has chosen and guided Israel with clear, concrete, historical examples such as the exodus. God knows that the idolaters who take the stand will be humiliated because they will not be able to provide such examples of sovereignty from their puny gods.
It’s worth mentioning here that in the modern times of today not many people are making a golden calf and worshiping it. Idolatry exists today, but it grows in the mind of a scholar or groups of scholars, when it abandons the truth in the scriptures, and their theology becomes an idol, a creation of the human mind.
One example of this is someone who doesn’t believe God created us, but that we started out as a random one-celled amebae that washed up on some ocean shore. Or a mind that puts all their hope in a certain government, instead of putting their hope in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Or a mind that makes money or their portfolio their God. An idol then, is anything that replaces the Redeemer as our ultimate hope.
With that definition in mind, is fear of being a witness of the Redeemer, Christ Jesus, idolatry? Are we protecting ourselves rather than confessing Christ, showing that self‑preservation has taken the place of trusting God?
Consider what Jesus told His disciples and us in Matthew chapter 10, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Jesus promises that He will stand by us before the heavenly Father at the last judgment if we confess Him fearlessly.
But if we are not providing a fearless witness, are we not among the idolaters whom God calls into the courtroom of the world in Isaiah? If our silence toward others amounts to denial, Jesus would answer yes.
I have committed the sin of silence because of fear. I have laid awake at night with regret after letting opportunities to proclaim Christ pass me by because I was afraid. I’m sure we can all think of at least one missed opportunity like this.
But “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
By our confession, God forgives the sins we willingly commit and the sins of omission—the good deeds we fail to do.
Because Christ Jesus has borne our fear, our silence, and our failure to confess Him before others, there is no condemnation left for us. Where fear once ruled our hearts, Christ now reigns with forgiveness and peace. He does not cast us away because of our weakness, but draws us near with mercy, covering even our fearful silence with His righteousness and restoring us by His grace.
Unlike the gods of idol worshipers, the Redeemer God acts. Unlike the gods of idol worshipers, He creates. Unlike the gods of idol worshipers, He redeems. Unlike the gods of idol worshipers, He predicts and fulfills the future. Christ crucified is the clearest proof: The world saw defeat; God accomplished salvation.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” says Paul in Romans 8. Christ stands in the courtroom for us. Our guilt, fear, silence, and idolatry were placed on Him when He was on the cross. His righteousness was credited to us through faith alone. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who is interceding for us.”
Because of Christ we are not defendants—we are forgiven children. But for the people who believe in false Gods, we are on a rescue mission.
Why? Because not everyone is “in Christ Jesus.” Those words of comfort from God through Saint Paul don’t apply to them. We live in a world mixed with unbelievers and believers. That’s why we are called to testify—to be His witnesses.
What do we testify to those He places by our side? The truth. Since God mockingly asked His rivals to declare what is to come, and what will happen, it’s obvious then that we are called to declare to God’s rivals what is to come and what will happen. We testify that the final courtroom is coming. And God promises that in that courtroom those who believe in Jesus the Judge will be resurrected on the Last Day.
Why do we testify? We love all people. If you saw someone trapped in a burning car, would you stand there and watch them die? Of course not. A passage in 1 John says: “perfect love casts out fear.” What the world needs is love—Christ’s love. Our love for others, growing out of God’s sacrificial love for us, can help keep us from being bystanders, and God will effectively dispel our fear of sharing Christ with those who are perishing.
So how do we testify? We fearlessly testify. Not because evil is gone—but because God is present. Not because we are strong—but because He is King! He is the Rock that we lean on! “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my stronghold (Psalm 18:2).” Amen
