Book Review: Do Not Leave Quietly by Mario Murillo

I learned of Mario Murillo several years ago from some friends on social media. I tend to take my time in deciding if pastors are legit. His teaching and doctrine are sound. I picked up his book Do Not Leave Quietly (2022). I was blown away with how good it was. Absolutely blown away. This was not the watered down Christianity so often found in America’s churches. This was first century church stuff!

As many know, and I have stated this in previous posts, I have been studying about ways to move forward when faced with evil, suffering, and how to confront both. I understand there are times to remain silent for the sake of unity. But is it really unity when we fail to speak and do what is right? Or is remaining silent in the face of evil…a sin? The Jesus I follow was not timid. In fact, the message that Jesus preached was so hard hitting…it got him killed. I wonder if we are preaching and living out a Gospel that would get us “convicted” of the same things Jesus was? Or is the Gospel which we are preaching so watered down that the world cannot distinguish our actions from itself?

I mean Jesus was casting out demons, turning over tables in the Temple, and completely upending the teaching of the so-called Teachers of the Law. Jesus raised men and women from the dead. As the Son of God, He had come to destroy the Devil’s work.

And we are called to be like Jesus. We are called to walk in love. In fact, we are called to lay down our very lives if called to do so. We are called to forgive. We may be called to confront false teaching. We may be called to cast out demons. We may be called before the rulers of this world and asked to provide testimony. And if we do all of that, we will most certainly be persecuted as such. And if we do even some of that, the Gospel is preached.

At the last supper as described in John 13: 13-17, Jesus has some words for those who would follow him….

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

How do we as believers balance the need to speak up and the need to give God room to work? Judas did a terrible job of this. We don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to force Jesus to work on our behalf. God will do things in His time. We need to trust and be faithful that he will answer our prayers in the way He sees fit. We also know that Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple when he saw people being taken advantage of. The best way to protect our steps is to read Scripture found in the Bible, pray fervently, and surround ourselves with wise counsel who don’t easily fall prey to the world.

I am going to share a few quotes from Do Not Leave Quietly which I found powerful and thought provoking…

–When Christian moms go to school board meetings to confront child porn in the classroom, they look around and wonder, “Where is my pastor?” ~ Mario Murillo

–God has chosen to act in answer to prayer. He waits until His people rise and take their rightful place in the arena of battle. Young David saw the stalemate. No one challenged Goliath. David couldn’t stand it. He offered himself to God. God is looking for someone like that today—someone who can’t live with evil, who can’t stomach the perversion, and is enraged to see God dishonored. God is looking for someone He can use to turn the tide in America. ~ Mario Murillo

–Remember when I told you this: A new kind of Christian leader will soon appear on the American stage. They will not fit any present mold. They will be the catalysts. They will usher in the next great awakening. They will appear because conditions will demand their appearance.…No one will be able to buy them off or get them to change the subject. ~ Mario Murillo

–This filtered view of service is one big reason the Church lost influence in our nation. God tried to send people into education, law, medicine, business, art, media, and yes, even politics—but instead, we herded them into “Christian service.” ~ Mario Murillo

–The greatest weapon God has given you is a voice. Your voice is not supposed to be silent. It is not supposed to be silenced. Never underestimate the power of a voice. With just their voice, heroes of God have defeated armies and raised the dead. The world was created by the Voice of God. ~ Mario Murillo

–For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ~ John 3:8

–Of all the talents bestowed upon men, none is so precious as the gift of oratory. He who enjoys it wields a power more durable than that of a great king. He is an independent force in the world. Abandoned by his party, betrayed by his friends, stripped of his offices, whoever can command this power is still formidable. ~ Winston Churchill

–But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. ~ 2 Timothy 3: 1-4

–If voices can destroy America, it follows then that God-given voices can save her. We need voices, big and small, famous voices and regular folks. We need them in the high places and in the everyday places. They need to be in schools, businesses, government, entertainment centers. In short, everywhere. ~ Mario Murillo

–But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13And so you will bear testimony to me. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17Everyone will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19Stand firm, and you will win life. ~ Luke 21: 12-19