Silence Isn't Golden

While taking training for my youth ministry position through the diocese, there was a quote placed on one of my lessons that really caught my attention. This is a quote from Elie Weisel, who is a survivor of the Holocaust, and it states: "Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Obviously, he is referencing a lot from his own personal experiences through this quote. And although this quote is so simple, it leaves such a large impact…because this quote can truly fit into events that happen daily to each of us.

After Elie was freed from Auschwitz, he took a 10 year vow of silence…during this time he did not discuss or write about his experiences from the war. Then, with the encouragement of another writer, he wrote down his memories, and titled the book: And the World Kept Silent. What a moving title - I've never read the book, and I can already feel the pain that must lie within its 900 pages...the silence that allowed the war to get to the point it did, the suffering that was endured while people stood aside and tried to banish the images and to make excuses for what was happening…

Just like in our own lives, many things happen and we choose to say something or to be silent. Often times, we feel like if we say nothing, then we didn't affect the situation, or at least we didn't make things worse than they already were…but that's not true. Being a witness to events, no matter if we say something or do not say something, makes us involved in whatever happened. Our silence speaks volumes, and sometimes, that silence shouts louder than some whispered words would have. Our silence encourages those who are trying to get away with something that they know they should not be doing…and in the end, this silence hurts those being tormented.

This includes our faith and our beliefs…when have you sat idly nearby when someone tore down your beliefs? Did you decide that keeping silent would possibly ease the situation more than your words would have? I know of my own experience of this - when I sat silently nearby as some friends from differing denominations basically attacked one of my fellow Catholic friends regarding Catholicism. Although I partially agree with my silence (since I chose to stay out of the argument in order to divert one of my non-Christian friend's attention away from this embarrassing spectacle), I still should have at least said something to support my friend being cornered. My silence did not keep me out of the discussion, instead, my silence spoke volumes - saying that I did not care enough about my Catholic upbringing to defend our church (although, truly, I would have much rather have said one thing - and asked them why they, as Christians, were bickering among themselves rather than trying to demonstrate the joy of the Christian lifestyle - instead, they were demonstrated the ugly politics - right in front of a friend who was a non-believer).

When have you kept silent when you should have spoken up and defended yourself or another person? How can we change this in the future to ensure that we speak up in a way that defends others when tormentors may be beating on them?

Today's passage is from 2 Timothy 3:12-17:
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."