There are so many ways our societies, cultures, traditions, workplaces, etc. can take our voice away. I am sure at some point in all our lives we have felt silenced, inferior, forgotten, alone or (you fill in the blank here). I know there are many of us trying really hard to knock down these walls and speak out against injustice, but I also know that there are still people trying to keep the silence on some very unjust things and succeeding. I am not sure why. Maybe it is because of fear, inconvenience, exposure, money – but whatever it is, it is not worth NOT fighting back.
Matt and I decided a few months ago to start watching all of the Marvel movies from the beginning. We even have a spreadsheet to rank and score the movies. Yes, I know we are intense! It has taken us a bit longer than we thought. With three kids, trying to adopt three more, full-time jobs, me deciding to make a complete career change and everything else going on, we are usually too tired at the end of the day to watch a 2+ hour movie. BUT, when we do, we usually enjoy it. Tonight we watched the Avengers: Age of Ulton. One of the best lines I have ever heard was spoken in this movie. No joke! I also thought it played well for this post, “I think you are confusing peace with quiet,” – Ultron (James Spader). Brilliant! Which brings me to my point…
We seem to all be into the Enneagram these days and I know there are those of us who have qualities of a fighter and those of us who lean toward peacemakers. Regardless of this, God has called ALL His people – the challenger and the peacemaker – to stand up (speak up) against some clear things.
Proverbs 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Acts 18:9-10 (emphasis mine) And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
Jeremiah 22:3-5 Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you; but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
A few years ago, Charlee’s preschool teacher described to me how sweet she was, but the thing that her teacher said that defined her “sweetness” more to me was how Charlee always stood up for “fairness”. She would stick up for her friends on the playground when she saw wrongdoing. When a child took an item from another one, Charlee would go ask for it back. Her teacher told me that day she loved that quality in Charlee. So why does this quality seem to be revered in children, but later seen as a threatening quality in adults? When we speak out against unfairness or injustice, these days we have to be ready to be put on the defense. It’s seen in the workplace: managers and executives minimizing the problems. When women find the courage to report, they are often then marginalized and told it is not a big deal or that they must have misunderstood their supervisors or human resources department. This further perpetuates the problem, and even more damaging, results in victims feeling helpless, (excerpt from Samorn Selim’s Book Review of “The Shield of Silence: How Power Perpetuates a Culture of Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace”). It is seen in politics, especially right now with the whistleblower news everywhere. It is seen in our families and friend groups.
What makes us stay silent? At one point in my life, I confided in a highly respected mentor and, with good intentions, she gave me this verse to meditate on in hopes I’d find encouragement: 1 Peter 2:18 (NASB) says, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.”
Let me first say that I believe God’s plan is sovereign and I believe His ways are GOOD in all circumstances! But I also think people can mislead us with His words and unintentionally silence us. Therefore, it is very important for us to review the Bible, pray and meditate toward His specific will for us. Because of those wrongly placed, but yet wise words, I decided to “choose favor” for longer than I should have. Soon enough, I listened to the unsettling of my heart and spoke up. God also tells us to do good, seek justice, and correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17).
When do we know when to speak up? What is a cause we should stand up for? I don’t know what the answer is for you. I also know I have spoken up when I shouldn’t have. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Therefore; pray for discernment and pray for clarity and wisdom.
I have never been sexually abused in the workplace and I do not want to act like I know anything about it or understand it, but I want to help by having a voice against it! We can do our part to try to prevent sexual abuse, harassment and/or inequality for women and all minorities in the workplace. I ask you, to stand up for more accountability in leaders, more comprehensive measures in place not just limited to sexual abuse, but all abuse and harassment. Ask questions about company policies. Demand a culture of inclusion and belonging. Strongly request transparency in the workplace. If something sounds fishy or shady or vague, it’s because it is!
As a community, we must work together to create a major culture shift where transparency, accountability, and inclusion are a foundation of all organizations.
– Samorn Selim’s Book Review of “The Shield of Silence: How Power Perpetuates a Culture of Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace”
In our government, make sure YOU vote. Let your voice be heard. Call your representatives. Don’t think your voice doesn’t matter, because it does! I will be the first to say I have to get much better at this.
All I know is, don’t be silent. God gave us a voice, so open your mouth.
– Me
Three things I won’t ever be speechless on:
- Oppression of the poor
- Oppression of the weak
- Oppression of women
I would love for you to comment on this blog and tell me your three things you won’t ever be speechless on. Thank you for interacting with me and I love you! *Side note, the name inspiration, yes, came from the new movie Aladdin! I would highly recommend looking up the lyrics to Speechless by Naomi Scott. ONE OF MY FAVS!