When parents tell a child no and do not back it up: they have taught him nothing. When Christians tell the world no and do not back it up: they teach the world nothing. In truth, both the parents and the Christians have taught them hypocrisy. They have taught them that there is no justice or penalty for sin, so why does it matter? At that point, sin is not a matter of right and wrong but only opinion. Evil will only grow in such a vacuum like weeds in an untended garden.
Churches and parents are called to uphold God’s standard. When we see sin in the church and do not correct it or sin in the world and don’t take a stand: we will make no difference whatsoever.
Preach the love, grace, and redemption of the Gospel available for all who repent. But if you fail to warn them about sin they will see no need to listen to you at all because they are just fine.
Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 ESV