The Bible tells us that we will account for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). One part of the meaning of idle is "careless." Besides careless words, a careless silence can also be dangerous. It can be a form of condoning an action we witness that is wrong. Silence, when a warning is needed, is something that we hold people responsible for.

God, too, holds people accountable for being silent when they ought to cry out. Ezekiel 3:17-20 tells us that when a person is appointed to watch and does not cry out, God holds that person accountable. There is a time to keep silence and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Wisdom is knowing the difference, and character is applying that knowledge.