Topical Encyclopedia Connivance, in a biblical context, refers to the act of overlooking, ignoring, or tacitly consenting to wrongdoing. It is a passive form of complicity in sin, where an individual or group fails to take action against evil or injustice. The Bible addresses the issue of connivance in various passages, emphasizing the responsibility of believers to uphold righteousness and justice.Proverbs 24:11-12 "Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. If you say, 'Behold, we did not know about this,' does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not He who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?" This passage highlights the moral obligation to intervene and act against wrongdoing. It warns against the excuse of ignorance and underscores God's awareness of our actions and inactions. Ezekiel 3:18-19 "If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself." Here, the prophet Ezekiel is reminded of his duty to warn the wicked. Failure to do so results in shared responsibility for the consequences of the wicked's actions. This passage illustrates the importance of speaking out against sin. James 4:17 "Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin." James emphasizes the sin of omission, where failing to act on known righteousness is itself sinful. This reinforces the idea that connivance, through inaction, is contrary to Christian duty. Romans 1:32 "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them." Paul speaks to the gravity of not only committing sin but also approving or condoning the sins of others. This approval can be passive, as in the case of connivance, and is condemned alongside active participation in sin. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this?" The Corinthian church is reprimanded for their pride and inaction regarding blatant sin within their community. Paul calls for decisive action to address and rectify the situation, highlighting the danger of connivance through complacency. Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." This verse encourages believers to actively engage in the restoration of those who have fallen into sin, rather than ignoring or condoning their actions. It calls for a proactive and gentle approach to addressing sin within the community. Revelation 2:20 "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols." In the message to the church in Thyatira, the Lord rebukes the congregation for tolerating false teaching and immorality. This tolerance is a form of connivance, and the church is called to repentance and correction. These scriptures collectively underscore the biblical mandate to confront and address sin, both personally and within the community. Connivance, through inaction or passive consent, is consistently portrayed as contrary to the call of righteousness and justice that God places upon His people. Nave's Topical Index Proverbs 10:10He that winks with the eye causes sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. Nave's Topical Index 1 Samuel 3:11-13 Library Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ... English Congregational Creeds. The Blossoming Desert. Account of Proceedings in the Peninsula Conflicts of the Church with Public Wrongs. The Church of the Middle Ages Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ... Acts IX Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ... Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ... Resources Who was Esther in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Xerxes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Mordecai in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Plot: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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