One of the Silent Bystanders?

First of all, I want to thank each of the readers of this blog for taking time out to read and follow the works that are posted. I pray that you have received a blessing from reading these posts, an that you continue to grow in faith in the new year. Speaking of which, I wish you a Happy New Year! I ray that you will prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers (scripture).

Now, onto the topic at hand. I was suppose to write this last week, but I was delayed with distractions (a challenge I fully intend to overcome in this new year). I want to bring to your attention, if you are not already aware, of the recent bombings of 2 churches in Nigeria on Christmas day. One of the things that bothered me about the whole situation wasn't so much the act in itself (I am aware of the ongoing persecution and atrocities being committed by various anti Christian organizations and the Governments in various nations that support them either directly or indirectly), but of the lack of coverage in the news. Even more disturbing was the absence of a response from the Christian Community here in the west. Not to paint a broad brush, but it seems to me that with Christmas being on a Sunday this year, many were more concerned about the gift status under the Christmas tree than world events unfolding that impact our brothers and sisters in Christ in another region of the planet

A few months back, I was studying the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I read a chapter in a book written by Eberhard Bethge who worked with Bonhoeffer during the resistance movement in Germany in WWII. In his Book “Friendship and Resistance”, there was a chapter written entitled “One of the Silent Bystanders?” where he outlined and analyzed Bonhoeffer's reaction to an incident that occurred on Nov. 9, 1938. Hitler made a speech promoting vengeance against the Jewish people for the murder of a German diplomat. The speech incited violence against Jews throughout Germany, where Nazi sympathizers bombed, burned, and destroyed Jewish homes, properties, businesses, and assaulted an murdered dozens of innocent Jewish citizens. As property was being burned, firefighters watched, refusing to extinguish the flames. As news of the event spread, only a brave few chose to speak out against the atrocities committed by the Nazi's; many others kept silent as to not bring unwanted attention to themselves an their families. Bonhoeffer at the time was a teacher at two seminaries in Germany. He had not said anything regarding what had happened, but it was obvious that the situation weighed heavily on his heart and conscience. Bethge contends that the event changed Bonhoeffer in a profound way, as he saw that the church had a responsibility to stand against the forces of evil, and it was instead choosing to sit on the sidelines and be neutral. Yes, the violence was against the Jewish people, but then again, they were also God's chosen people. Notwithstanding, there was a necessity to stand for righteousness – to oppose evil because it was the right thing to do. He later went on to oppose the Nazi's , working in the underground resistance before being arrested an sent to prison, where he would be later martyred for the faith.

So, what does the writing s of Bethge and Bonhoeffer have to do with what happened in Nigeria on Christmas Day? The events that took place on Christmas day in Nigeria were profoundly horrible. Innocent people were targeted and killed for their faith, on such a special day in Christianity. The act of terrorism was not unlike that which took place many years ago in Germany in Bonhoeffer's time (maybe not quite as widespread, but no less violent). Sadly, the response by the church at-large has been just as mute. Ina time where 24 hr news cycles gives us information in real-time, an computers, cellphones, Internet an social media have the ability to connect us closer than ever before, we are more disinterested, unconcerned, and disconnected than ever. I am left wondering if history will repeat itself. Will the American church continue to be concerned more with it's own prosperity than the welfare of it's brothers and sisters in Christ? Shall our prayers be limited to “me an my family? Will it's compassion reach across the Atlantic an Pacific oceans to lands far beyond our reach, or will it stop at the borers of our communities, our shores? While thee are some who actively engage in helping ministries abroad, the sense of awareness has been “weighed, measured, and found wanting.”

The disengagement has me wondering if the church in America has being lulled into a false sense of security because the violence has not reached our shores to the degree that it did in Nigeria. Or has it? I say this because on that Christmas Sunday, I was one of those who attended worship service that day. And on that day, there was an incident at my church where someone poured gasoline onto several cars in the parking lot. The situation was resolved without incident (no injuries and no damage to property), but I am left wondering if this is another wake-up call for the church to become more engaged through prayer and ministry efforts. Not everyone is called to travel to the ends of the earth, but we are called to pray and to assist where led. We cannot be silent bystadners any longer. We cannot play the role of ostrich and bury our heads in the sand, hoping the chaos of the enemy bypasses us. We cannot be so myopic as to focus only ourselves an the immediate needs in front of us. We are not all called to be missionaries, but all of us have a part to play in ensuring the continued spread of the Gospel. We can no longer pretend that such things only happen “over there”, and will never happen here, nor be so callous as to dismiss the situation as “someone else's problem.” I pray it does not take a tragedy of such magnitude to happen here to notice that evil is not bound by geographic location, spiritual warfare is a present reality has come to our shores, violence will escalate, and we can no longer be a silent bystanders in this conflict – pleading neutrality and hoping that if we stay out of it, we can avoid such problems.