Today's one of those times. Most often, silence is bigger
than the truth. Sometimes it seems people care more about avoiding a possible
conflict, or prevent looking argumentative than standing for truth. That's a
pet peeve of mine. Pretty sure the fact that I generally speak up, is a pet
peeve for others. But sometimes it just isn't in me to stay silent. The truth
about my community; standing up for a friend or family member; the truth in
politics; and especially Biblical truths are imperative to me. I just don't
understand silence on any of those issues. Why would we let a proven inaccuracy
go unchallenged, or uncorrected? The falsehood thereby continues to spread and
gain momentum - sometimes even changing the way we live our lives. Why would we
not politely correct someone who misquotes, or defend one who is misquoted? Why allow someone to look
foolish, or like they support something that they actually oppose. Why would we
allow someone to believe anything that is inaccurate? Why would we let a
friend's reputation or even a politician's reputation be destroyed when we can
present facts that show differently? Why do we do that? I just don't get it. In
a day and age where it has never been easier to defend someone, why do we
remain silent?
One of the things I was asked at a recent job interview was:
"What do you do if you are maligned, or someone you know is right, but has
been said to be wrong?"
Oh goodness! Why did I get that question? But the truth is
that is right up my alley - it is at the depth of my being. It is how I try to live
my life; or at the very least how I really want to live it. And I don't think I
even live that way "out of principle". I do it simply because I don't
know how to do it any other way. I want to be defended, so I defend. No, it certainly
doesn't always work that way.
This is how I answered the question at my interview. "When I worked at a restaurant, I had
heard someone got food poisoning there. I felt that that was an inaccurate
accusation and I couldn't let it pass. I had to defend what I knew to be true.
Now there is always a possibility, that someone could have gotten sick there,
but could they be certain the poisoning came from there? Were they positive
that is what the illness was? What I know about the restaurant from working
there is that it is the cleanest restaurant I have ever seen. What I know about
this business is that the health department told them they were the cleanest
restaurant in the area.
I could defend the
reputation of the restaurant without being argumentative. I could present to
the accuser, what I knew for myself without being offensive. I could defend the
restaurant without saying the accusation was wrong. That is what I chose to do
and hope I will always make that choice."
More often than not I choose to defend. Hopefully, I always
do it politely and respectfully. Probably not, but I do try. I do not let
inaccuracies stand. But I mostly feel alone in my efforts. When I am attacked,
misquoted or misunderstood, I have never felt defended, supported, restored or
avenged of the inaccuracies. Never. Even when I have prayed for God to expose
the truth. Mostly the untruths just stand. That is difficult to understand
sometimes. And I will admit, sometimes I wonder why I have not been defended by others. So be it. But I am not talking about defending myself here. Most will say we are not to defend ourselves. And I am not arguing that point. I am
talking in this post about defending others and/or standing for truth.
Biblical Counsel
Do we have a Biblical precedent to follow regarding speaking
up for truth? Of course we do. Obviously we are advised in Eph 4:15 regarding
Biblical doctrine to speak the truth in love. But maybe even that is off point.
I often think about when Mary, mother of Jesus, who at the
wedding told Jesus they had run out of wine. She was hoping He would fix the
situation even if it meant revealing who He was. This is a bit different than
what I am talking about in this post, as well. But still this incident always comes to
my mind in situations where I feel left out on a limb, by myself, with no one
defending me. Jesus didn't defend Mary. He corrected her. Outside of timing, I suppose it was also because Jesus thought
her request was for the wrong reason. Sometimes that is the way it must be; sometimes maybe
it is just best to leave things unsaid, for the well-being of another person. I am
not talking about those times. My other pet peeve is when someone has no
respect for appropriate silence - especially again when it comes to protecting a loved one. But in the end, in
this incident, Mary obeyed; then advised others by telling the servants to do
whatever Jesus instructed; and in the end Jesus responded with His first public
miracle. I just think there is a lesson there. There was action in Mary's obedience, but also in telling others to obey.
In another incident of apparent silence, we know Jesus
stayed silent before the charges brought against Him until compelled to
give an answer, but His response was only
to state Who He is. In Jesus' silence He revealed his authority. Sometimes that
can be true for us, as well. But only when it is about God's power, not ours.
And this example was for His own purpose. He did speak on behalf of others on
the cross. "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."
What about another time that Jesus verbally spoke in defense
of someone? Jesus publicly defended the woman at the well, saying "Let he
who is without sin, cast the first stone." Her accusers left one by one. I
firmly believe this is how we are to respond, in whatever means we have
available to us. This is also an example He left for us.
Of course, Jesus' whole life and purpose was about the defense of others. He is our Advocate with the Father. That always evokes strong emotion in me. But I am human and sometimes I would like earthly defense from my brothers and sisters, as well. ;-)
Ok enough of that; this isn't a Bible Study; just my random thoughts, so
search for yourself and please feel free to comment if you have some thoughts
regarding this. I am truly interested. Back to the subject at hand.
Preserving Truth
What about the fact, that "history belongs to those who
write"? What are we going to do if we have read something we know is not
true? Let inaccuracies stand? Our silence changes truth, not just for the
moment but forever. Not just at the personal level, but at every level. Someone understands that - thus revisionist history; thus
yellow journalism. If one wants to permanently change facts - write. In my opinion,
if one wants truth to stand - write.
I got myself in trouble a while back correcting inaccuracies
that were written on line. The lies were evident to those familiar with the circumstances,
but for the countless others who weren't
a part of the situation, it was impossible to know the truth. The more I
corrected, the more the attacks grew. But should I have just let the lies stand
and said nothing? Those written statements were not going to go away. People
could read them for years. They would eventually come to be known as truth,
because there was no effort to expose the inaccuracies. What if a relative,
maybe a grandchild, read those lies years later? I would rather look foolish in
print, than let lies remain about someone I know.
Apart from that, sometimes it is simply about offering
support. Sometimes you know someone's character, or their purpose, even if you
don't know the actual facts. Innocent until proven guilty, right? I think it is
important to defend simply to encourage
someone in the battle. You don't leave someone dying alone on the battlefield.
You just don't do it. You come to their aid.
Books have been written with no accountability, saying
whatever someone wants to say. Movies, "based on an actual story" or even
labeled as "fiction" somehow become real in the public's mind. People
don't often reason and think for themselves anymore; they just believe it as fact
because "It was on TV". That's just plain dangerous to our society.
The lies/inaccuracies, then stand and eventually somehow become
"representative of the times" and therefore truth. Our history, our
moral compass as a society is thereby incrementally changed. Our culture
becomes known as something different than what it was and even
actually still is.
"A lie repeated often enough, eventually becomes
truth." - Joseph Stalin
Someone understands that today, too, because "spin" i.e. distortion, is prevalent
in our society. It is how some do their politics now days. It is also how some
do their church.
“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human
beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality
helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never
the tormented.”
~Elie Wiesel
"The philosophers are wrong; it is not words that kill,
it is silence." ~Elie Wiesel
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