“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.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
There are some encouraging words for us in America today. How many of us are reluctant to speak out against that which is evil because we fear such foolishness as political correctness? How many of us are silent, because we fear losing our jobs? How many of us remain silent about the truth when it comes to dealing with our friends?
We have gone far too soft in our country. We are far too afraid, far too timid. Yet, being called to be a Christian means standing against evil and for the truth. We are to stand up against that which is evil because God has called us to, casting down every evil thought that stands opposed to God’s word.
Baba, a dear friend, encouraged me today by loaning me the biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas. Metaxas is the same man that wrote Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Some of you may be familiar with the subsequent movie that was made from that book entitled Amazing Grace. If you have not seen, then by all means, order it now and watch it. It ranks up there is the movie, Luther, as far as movies that depict men who were strong in their faith and willing to suffer for it.
I look forward to reading the book on Bonhoeffer. You can see that it is already worth the read just from the quote above. Bonhoeffer truly stood against evil in his day and it cost him his life. We too are to do the same. It probably won’t cost us our lives, which is even more of a reason to stand for righteousness sake. In other words, we have fewer excuses in not standing for right. Falling under the condemnation of those who are politically correct and using a gallows has the same evil one behind it all. We are to resist him nonetheless. As the Scripture tells us, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. Let us stand against that which is evil and for righteousness sake.
Well said. I know someone who used to take Bonhoeffer very seriously. But sadly, he spent 80 years in a theologically liberal denomination (basically a big vat of “frog soup”) and now spouts politically correct sound bite nonsense (“But Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality,” etc.).
Which goes to show that you sit under that kind of teaching long enough, it will begin to make sense. We need to be serious about whom we sit under and make sure that we sit at HIS feet enough to know when those we submit ourselves to, are right or wrong in what they say and teach.
I “shared” this at facebook…just too good not to.
Blessings, Julie
Thanks Julie. I appreciate that.
BTW, please pray for us. I really need to find a job. The church here is getting closer to calling a pastor and every avenue or step I’ve taken seems to be a closed door. I’m really struggling with it all.
Left a comment but it poofed!..Good luck with the work hunting..I have faith in ya!