The other day, while making a particularly important phone
call, my three-year-old son, Caleb, asked me if he could climb up on my
shoulders. I was in mid-sentence with
the person on the telephone, so I did not answer him. He asked me once more,
and again, I did not answer him. In this instance, it was not resonating with
Caleb that his dad and I had given him instruction on his behavior when we had
to take a phone call. We have told him
more than once not to be loud or ask us anything while we are on the
phone. I am sure many parents can relate
to this. On this day, I had been on hold
for what seemed like forever. I had
finally gotten through to a live person to handle some time-sensitive
business. The very moment I began
speaking to the person on the other line is the exact moment Caleb began doing
exactly what I had already told him not to do. He then looked up me with a
smile on his face, speaking aloud, okay I can do it. At that moment, I realized that my toddler
took my silence or lack of response as permission to do something that I did
not agree with.
As I have pondered instances like this over the past couple
of weeks, I realized an important and valuable lesson: there is a real and tangible danger in silence. When witnessing social injustices, deliberate
oppression, blatant racism, and the list can go on, silence can be perceived as
approval and/or agreement. In my
opinion, many can be in such an individualistic mindset, that if a situation does
not directly affect them, whether they agree or not, silence is the choice they
make. Others may be fearful or just despise
confrontation, therefore, the choice of silence is made.
I am reminded when Jesus confronted wrongdoers, in a very stern
and some may say aggressive way, when they were buying and selling in the
temple. Matthew 21:12-13 states: Jesus went into the temple and threw out all
those buying and selling. He overturned
the tables of the moneychangers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “It is written, my house
will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!” From what I know and believe to be true,
Jesus loves all people, yet he hates sin.
His actions and words were against the wrong that was being done. He witnessed people turning God’s house into
something that it was not meant to be, so he spoke out.
I have begun to think of how my sphere of influence through
the years might have been affected if I was more vocal about my convictions
about injustice, hate, etc. As a
follower of Christ, I have a deep longing to see others experience His love in
their situations, communities, and even globally.
Through my personal experience with my two sons, I have become
their greatest advocate. If anyone does
or says something that is not in their best interest, it is my call to protect
and defend them. Though it does take a
daily shifting in thought, my neighbor should receive the same courtesy. The way I defend my neighbor versus my sons
will look different, but it is still love in action. I may offer prayer and/or material
assistance, while using my voice in my sphere of influence to help bring about
a change from wrong to right.
Currently, many are suffering due to no fault of their
own. There are mental health challenges
because of the global pandemic, there is social unrest due to racially motivated
crimes, and economic and financial challenges are reaching far and wide, even
in the great United States of America.
My questions are:
What would it look like if those of us who say we are Christ followers
become the solution the world is looking for?; What if we spoke out about
injustice, while still loving those bound by hatred?; What if we used our word
to eloquently speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the hope of seeing true
conversion in the hearts of people?; What if we stopped placing the
responsibility of solutions on others, and bear the burden ourselves?
Keep in mind, these are just my thoughts. I really believe that God is all
powerful. I really believe that He hears
our prayers. I really believe that I
have been endued with power by the Holy Spirit.
I really believe that LOVE never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).
I wrote this blog just to provoke some thought. I encourage you to look through the lens of
love and act accordingly. Let us have
the hard conversations, with the resolve of love being the goal. We have been silent long enough. Let us love,
let us heal, and let us provoke change.
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