Silence is the Real Crime Against Humanity
August 5, 2009 by Douglas
What a disturbing yet beautiful quote, “Silence is the real crime against humanity,” from Nadezhda Mandelstam. I’ve found that it’s difficult enough being open to life itself but retreating from it brings its own dangers.
The answer isn’t surrounding ourselves with people who are nice and clean while we ignore the pain around us. That only helps us to lose sight that we actually live in a lost and dying world, among people who have no real idea how much their Creator loves them.
What’s the easy shortcut to remedy this? Ah – there is none. But a good starting point is when those around us know that we as Christians truly understand them; then they may well conclude that perhaps God understands them too.
Maybe our silence, inability or unwillingness to act should be considered a crime against humanity. Or possibly we should endeavor to practice the art of helping others, which in essence is living out the gospel.
That could mean reaching out to someone across the world, or to a neighbor in their time of need and perhaps – even your own time of need. Giving sacrificially if not from your own resources, but of your time – because that is just as meaningful and worth more than what you may believe.
What legacy will each of us choose to leave behind? Have we mindlessly bought into a culture more interested in making headlines than history, or one that’s content to do nothing at all?
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Nice post. This is one of my main beefs with ‘small groups’ at churches. People meet in closed door areas and talk about THEIR problems and totally disregard what is happening outside THEIR doors.Sure they will pray for certain things/issues, maybe send some money, but man, get out there and DO something about it.
There is a saying about Satan not attacking those who aren’t doing anything. So, maybe that’s why people hide out on the sidelines? I don’t know.
Thanks Mike. Maybe that’s why they’re called “small groups,” which would be appropriate with being small-minded or cloistered. I’ve been shamefully guilty of this in the past, but have decided to be intentional, exercise a little faith to speak up and step out.