If I were to
remain silent, I'd be guilty of complicity – Albert Einstein
In
my last couple of sermons, and in last week's Wednesday Word, I've
addressed the issue of abuse in a variety of forms, but primarily the
abuse of women. Unfortunately abuse happens in many circumstances –
women, children, and the elderly being primary. Abuse can be subtle
or overt. And abuse always happens at the hands of those with power
over those who have little or no power.
Which
is why it is unreasonable to expect those who are abused to end the
abuse. There are a myriad reasons why this is not always possible,
but the number one reason is due to the power imbalance. Expecting
the abused to put an end to the abuse is like telling your six-year
old child to go find a better place to eat if they don't like what's
for dinner.
Abuse
of people will never end until the kingdom of God is fully
established. But we can address it, we can help to fight it and
hopefully decrease how often it happens. The key is for those of us
with the most power – read, white men – to shine a light on this
dark practice when it happens.
Certainly
this means when we see anything obvious, but it also means stepping
up and speaking out at the least obvious times. Everything from
boorish behavior to comments about body image to “locker room”
talk to boys-will-be-boys excuses need to be brought to light.
We
are asked, and we have promised, to live into our baptismal covenant
every day; not just on Sundays during a particular liturgy when it's
convenient. How is allowing this behavior resisting evil? How is
this behavior proclaiming the Good News? How does allowing this
behavior exhibit love of neighbor? Maybe most importantly, how does
allowing this behavior respect the dignity of every human being?
Yes,
doing so is uncomfortable. Yes, doing so may put you on the
receiving end of what has been dished out to others. Yes, this is
difficult. But again, nobody said following Christ would be easy.
If
we allow our fear to drive us, if we are silent because we don't want
to cause trouble, then we ourselves are complicit in actions taken,
and we ourselves are as guilty as the actual abuser.
In
the case of abuse, silence is not golden; silence is insidious.
May
God grant you the wisdom to identify imbalances and the courage to
fight for equality and respect.
Blessings,
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