Speaking out for truth and
justice is just one of many responsibilities we have as Christians. But I
suspect it is the one that we most willingly shirk, simply because it can be so
costly.
Being a Christian is costly in many ways. It is costly to live a life
of obedience and service, costly to go on loving against the odds, costly to
persevere when we are tempted to give up and costly to give generously of our
energy, time and money. But when we speak out we pay a cost of a different
kind, because speaking out makes us a target for attack.
John the Baptist lost his head for speaking out about vice and
corruption – but he did not shrink from confronting individuals in power when
it was appropriate to do so. The prophets and apostles were persecuted for what
they said, rather than what they did. Jesus himself was crucified for his
words, rather than his healing or his miracles.
And yet Christians are often reluctant to risk ridicule, attack or
‘loss of influence’ by putting their heads above the parapet. Karl Marx was
particularly disdainful of Christian priorities, ‘You Christians have a vested
interest in unjust structures which produce victims to whom then you can pour
out your hearts in charity.’ And whilst we would not embrace his communist
philosophy or solutions he did have a point. Real concern for the marginalised
is evidenced both by charity and by speaking out.
Bishop Dom Header Camara of Recife, Brazil, who lived as a bishop
among the poorest of the poor during the Brazilian dictatorship (post 1964),
made this observation. ‘When I served the poor they called me a saint, when I
asked why they were poor, they called me a communist.’ Camara understood the
structural reasons for the deep poverty of so many of his fellow Brazilians. He
challenged the obscene wealth of the rich, and the embarrassing linkage of the
Church with the powerful in his country.
As Christian doctors we have a responsibility to speak out on
behalf of the marginalised, the disempowered and those who have no voice– the
poor, elderly or confused, those with head injuries, dementia or strokes, those
suffering from chronic or psychiatric illness, the terminally ill, children,
unborn children and human embryos.
We need to speak out in
everyday conversation, through our NHS trusts and hospitals, through the BMA
and Royal Colleges, through government and on the Christian, secular and
medical media – both nationally and internationally. And we need to encourage
one another to make and create opportunities and remember that we are not
alone.
Mordecai’s words to Esther urging her to speak out when her own
people were under threat are just as relevant to us today: ‘If you remain silent
at this time, relief and deliverance… will arise from another place, but you
and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to
royal position for such a time as this?’(Esther 4:13-14)
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy… If you say,
‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart
perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? (Proverbs 31:8,9 and 24:12)
ReplyDelete>> costly to go on loving against the odds
Loving what or whom? And costly how?
I mean loving in a 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3 sense :
Delete' Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.'
'This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.'
It is costly in terms of time, energy, money and emotions.
This is an encouraging article. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt' is costly in terms of your friendships and social standing at times. It's difficult and tiring standing up for what is true when a relativist culture demands little but self realisation and comfort.
ReplyDeleteExcellent article.