Silence in the face of evil is itself evil

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil

By David Coltart

Bulawayo

27th July 2022

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: “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.”

There is so much evil in #Zimbabwe at present. Innocent people are in prison and bail has been denied to them. Deeply corrupt people run scot free. Corruption perpetrated by an elite leadership abounds. Teacher Union leaders are detained for asking for a liveable wage. The justice system has been almost totally subverted. People are murdered and yet the murderers are not prosecuted. The political elite flaunt their extreme wealth and spending on luxuries like Rolls Royce vehicles when hundreds of thousands of children are out of school and millions are poverty stricken.

And yet in the face of such evil many Christian leaders are silent. Some Christian leaders even support the political elite and do their bidding. Some justify their positions, saying they are quietly influencing change, when no change is apparent, indeed as things worsen. This is what the Bible says about such conduct.

James 4:17

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Proverbs 8:13

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

Ephesians 5:11

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

Romans 12:21

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Habakkuk 1:13

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?”

Ephesians 5:11-12

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Psalm 94:16

“Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against those who practice iniquity?”

Isaiah 5:20

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

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