One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid anymore, but go on speaking and do not be silent;  for I am with you, and no one will attack you in order to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.” ~ Acts 18:9-10, AMP

Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. ~ Philippians 2:1-3, AMP

The term “crickets” refers to the nonresponse a believer in Christ receives, for example, after posting a call-to-action message. Put differently, the sound of silence is CRICKETS—what a follower of Christ hears after asking several people groups to work on creating unity by loving each other, respecting each other, listening to each other, supporting each other, and defending each other.

Today’s churches are filled with people who talk a good game, but when challenged to practice what they preach – crickets. Then too, many churchgoers profess that they love God, but when they are asked to show the same love they have for God to their neighbors – crickets. Another example is the way many confessed believers in Christ are united only within their own denominations. When they are invited to unite with other brothers and sisters in Christ from different denominations – crickets.  Sadly, most denominational Christians won’t even unite over issues they have in common. Every time they are asked to do so – crickets.

Oh, the hypocrisy of it all—believers in Christ who declare they believe in the Scriptures, yet they do not do what every Scripture tells them to do. For instance, the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:10 that believers should be in total agreement, including being united in the way they think and the way they judge matters of faith. When believers today are asked to demonstrate the same oneness – crickets.