Taylor Swift recently spoke up in her defense when a radio DJ sought to take advantage of her. That person had already crossed boundaries with Swift that would make any person uncomfortable and angry. It was time for her to speak up, and she is a role model for many in doing so.
Tina Fey recently and famously ate almost an entire cake during her statement of frustration with the current political and cultural climate. She urged viewers to stay home rather than participate in a protest, but to take action in other ways, like supporting local, minority-owned businesses.
So who is right? Do we stand up and speak out against injustice, or refuse to engage with fools?
Both women had an important truth to share. I’ve been involved with church for most of my life as one part of my quest for wisdom. One thing I’ve noticed in the church is that we as Christians are often uncomfortable looking at contradictory statements that occur in the same Bible. I happen to find the inconsistencies intriguing, and one of my favorites is in the book of Proverbs. There are two directly contradictory verses, right there, back to back:
Proverbs 26:4: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.”
Proverbs 26:5: “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”
So which is it? Do we speak up against foolishness, or do we remain silent? To me, it’s as if God is speaking a clear message through King Solomon’s wisdom writings in Proverbs. The message is that there is a time for both. Maybe the question is not whether or not to speak out, but whether it is wise or not in the current situation to speak out or remain silent. Would speaking up cause you to lower your standards for peace? Or is speaking up necessary in order to expose and prevent further damaging messages and behaviors? Leave room for both, and work on discerning which is called for in any given moment.
A Question for Meditation: When do I need to speak up today? When do I need to remain silent?
Hi, I’m Angela