We Can’t Stay Silent

The tragic murder of George Floyd in the arms of police have left many feeling both horribly saddened and enraged. Another soul lost to the racism that is in our nation, and another soul taken from us way too soon. Haven’t we seen enough of this tragedy? Haven’t we seen enough Breonna Taylors, enough Ahmaud Arberys, enough George Floyds, and enough Trevyon Martins for us to finally see that enough is enough? That we need to step up instead of shutting up?

God calls us to step up in the face of injustice, to stand up for the oppressed and the weary hearted. Isaiah 1:17 states, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Ephesians 5:11 tells us to, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” When we stay silent on issues such as these, we become the inhibitors of the violence instead of becoming the prohibitors.

Jesus was never one to stay silent about the abuse and misuse of others. Instead, he stood up for the poor, for the needy, and for the oppressed. He loved all, despite their conditions, despite the hatred that many had for him, despite what they looked like, their race, or their gender. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

George Floyd was atrociously killed by a knee on his neck, even after he pleaded the words, ‘I can’t breathe’, Ahmaud Arbery was horribly shot and killed by two men while out on a jog around the neighborhood, and those men were arrested two months later. Breonna Taylor was disgustingly shot multiple times by police who came into her house, unannounced. Trevyon Martin was only seventeen when he was shot and killed near his own relatives’ home in 2012. When will we finally realize that we can’t stay silent?

There’s a time and a season for all things in life. However, whatever season it is, it is always the time to speak up against all racial and social injustices of this world. We are called by God to speak out against the oppression that the oppressed are facing, and expose the injustices not just in our own nation, but around the world. We cannot say we are Christians in name, but turn a blind eye to the inequality and racism that is around our world and presently in our nation. We cannot become bystanders and expect change to come into the world, but we need to become the doers of that change as well. Let us not let these precious lives become lost in vain. We can’t stay silent.