I don’t think I’ve ever gone a whole day without talking.
In fact, I’m not actually sure I’ve made it through very many complete hours without talking. It seems that I’m vary rarely at a loss of words or something to say. (If you read this blog, you’ve already figured this out). =)
But, tomorrow, I’m gonna stay quiet.
Tomorrow is the annual “Day of Silence.” Many high school students will choose to “not talk” during the day tomorrow in order to show their solidarity with their many peers that are wrestling with LGBT issues in loneliness and fear.
Now, I know many Christians who vehemently oppose this movement each year. In fact, last year I think I witnessed an all new low in Christian depravity as a local church actually held a protest outside a high school in my area (read last year’s blog here).
A church protesting high school students? Huh?
Effectively, though the church leaders claim nobler intentions, the message was “God hates gay people and so do Christians.”
And while many people will not go so far as to hold a protest outside a school tomorrow, a noticeable amount of “Christian” students will be absent tomorrow in an effort to make their own statement of condemnation about it. Others will attend but simply ridicule those participating and be as boisterous as possible in their disruption.
However, I would like to humbly suggest another alternative: PARTICIPATE.
In fact, I’d like to propose that maybe participation is the most CHRIST-LIKE thing we could possibly do. For while I may not agree with a particular lifestyle that may be reflected in some people of this movement, Jesus calls me to show love to people that are different than me, not condemnation.
Wayne Jacobsen is the publisher of the best-selling book, The Shack. Recently on his Lifestream blog, he wrote:
…many public school students will observe a Day of Silence as a means to protest harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It has been going on for almost a decade and many parents who are against ‘the gay agenda’ feel the need to keep their kids home that day, or participate in a Day of Truth that makes sure everyone in their district knows they consider homosexuality to be immoral. Is this the way Jesus would respond?
Perhaps a better way to encourage faith-based students to respond would be to adopt the Golden Rule Pledge. “I pledge to treat others the way I want to be treated.” It allows a pro-active response to sharing the burden to increase mutual respect for all, regardless of our differing points of view.
I agree whole-heartedly. Maybe we should spend less time trying to “win a battle of accepted morality” and more time living a life of CHRIST-LIKE love. Maybe Jesus’ model of love, compassion and grace really is more powerful than our protest. Maybe to be silent in solidarity with the weak, in some Kingdom of God way, really is more transforming than our disruptive and polarizing vocalization.
So, I’m gonna stay quiet because even if I disagree with people about their lifestyle, I don’t think Jesus will allow me to treat them with any less love than everyone else.
I’m gonna stay quiet because too many young people wrestling with complex sexual orientation issues are afraid to talk about it for fear of ridicule, ostracization, or even physical harm.
I’m gonna stay quiet because Jesus commands me to treat other people like I would like to be treated, and I so desperately want to let His way of life direct and control my own.
If you’d like to consider participating or supporting those who do as well, please visit this great site for more information on an excellent alternative/compliment to the DOS:
So, join me in trying a new way of life: LOVE.
Consider staying “SILENT.” It may be that our LBGT community has heard enough of our voices already anyway.
nickloyd.com 