Yesterday, a prominent Christian cited this quote from Bonhoeffer on social media...
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
I found this very challenging - in the light of the attrocity towards the LGBTQI+ community in Orlando and the murder in Yorkshire of a democratically elected MP, I have found myself lost for words. Whilst there have been some powerful and eloquent responses, there have been as many, if not more, ill-considered, unhelpful and (especially in relation to events in Orlando) evil and vindictive responses.
Silence, at least short term, if prompted by a sense of helplessness, impotence and, yes, fear of saying the wrong thing, doesn't seem to me to be intrinsically evil. Less than ideal, perhaps. Not what some feel is needed. Imperfect. Falling short. Sinful if you must. But evil?
Yet I remain challenged, deeply challenged. I have a host of sayings and Bible verses whirling in my mind...
"A still tongue shows a wise head..."
"There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent..."
"Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than them."
Perhaps I should have said or done something - but at the same time I am wary of empty symbols and hollow gestures. How easy it is to change a profile picture on social media and then forget all about the issue. How easy it is write some eloquent words and then move on to the next pressing topic. How easy it would be to make emotional responses to emotive matters, blowing with the wind and never doing any more.
Perhaps, and I hope this is not an excuse, I am allowing myself to confuse "malign silence" with my own "bewildered quietness". Perhaps I mistakenly read "inaction" when I am trying to "work within the systems to redeem". Perhaps quiet, sometimes subversive, hopefully transformative words and deeds, will never be enough. Perhaps I should be bolder and brasher and less fearful. Perhaps it is my own insecurity that creates a sense of guilt or inadequacy at what feels to be an honest response. Perhaps, too, I am far from alone.
God who speaks in the sound of silence
Christ who sleeps amidst the storm
Spirit who hovers over the chaos of this disordered world
Show me not only when, but how to speak
Not only when, but how to keep silence
And into the aching void of grief of all who mourn
In Orlando and Yorkshire
In refugee camp and war zone
In public and in private
Pour your unconditional, unending, accepting, all-embracing love
Amen.