I was thinking about this quote this morning. Bonhoeffer lived through the rise of the Nazis in his beloved Germany. He witnessed how little by little his society was taken over by evil. Most that proclaimed Christ did nothing to stop this rise. Some joined the Nazis; however, most remained silent. Their silence began because it was graduale. Hitler did not begin his rise to power with atrocities, but with words laced with honey. The atrocities came soon enough, but in the beginning it was easy to write off some of the rhetoric as politics.
As time progressed they remained silent out of fear. Fear for the loss of their money, loss of their reputations, and loss of their lives. While they reminded silent Hitler and his evil regime rose to great power.
What evil is going on around us right now? How often do we remain silent thinking it is not our role to speak up or there is nothing we can do about? I am not talking about any specific event, political party, or issue right now, I'm speaking in general. As a Christian what in our society, our lives, and our entertainment is evil? What are you doing to stop this evil? When is the right time to speak or to remain silent? When is the right time to act or remain in the shadows?
I have so much on my mind this Monday morning. I am praying for several individuals and for some national issues as well. I trust you are as well.
Here are this week's texts:
July 22, 2013 Job 1–3, Acts 17:22–18:17, Ps
86:title–4, Prov 18:4–6
July 23, 2013 Job 4–6, Acts 18:18–19:10, Ps
86:5–11, Prov 18:7–9
July 24, 2013 Job 7–8, Acts 19:11–41, Ps
86:12–17, Prov 18:10–11
July 25, 2013 Job 9–11, Acts 20:1–12, Ps 87, Prov
18:12–13
July 26, 2013 Job 12–14, Acts 20:13–38, Ps
88:title–4, Prov 18:14–15
July 27, 2013 Job 15–16, Acts 21:1–14, Ps 88:5–10,
Prov 18:16–18
July 28, 2013 Job 17–19, Acts 21:15–36, Ps
88:11–18, Prov 18:19–21
July 29, 2013 Job 20–21, Acts 21:37–22:21, Ps
89:title–5, Prov 18:22–24
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