It takes courage to speak in public. Some people become nervous, even in small gatherings, even among friends. This nervousness is often driven by a lack of certainty in what we are saying, to develop an opinion by thinking aloud makes us vulnerable.
I am writing this on the day of the funeral, in a church in Moscow, of Alexei Navalny. The Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner died. The official line concerning cause of death differs from the views of many observers. Navalny had been speaking out, repeatedly and with great confidence about things that he knew to be wrong, or corrupt.
It was the American philosopher and statesman, Abraham Lincoln, who said that “to sin by silence, when they should protest, makes cowards of men.” By that argument, Navalny and many like him are more sinned against than sinning.
The prophet Jeremiah writes of the internal torture of needing to deliver a difficult message, wanting to keep silence for safety’s sake but being unable to do so, instead bursting with the need say that which must be said. (Jeremiah 20:7-13 but especially v9).
Have you got undelivered messages waiting for you to get round to doing what you know you must do? Those messages are not necessarily as risky as speaking out against a tyrannical regime. What about the times you are suddenly overcome by the need to talk to someone to encourage them in their difficulties or help then with a knotty problem. What about the kind message that needs to be passed on when a friend is unwell, or when you have the words to help when another person is at a loss. Say it, do not sin by silence.
A prayer
Lord God, you have told us that we are your mouthpieces in the world. Through us, however timid we are, your truth is verbalised and takes to the wing. May your words fly, and your people be blessed, for Jesus’s sake. Amen.