Resistance ...

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Climate March

Championing care for the earth, which in turn brings care for people, is one way to resist the current increase of evil in the world.

I do not usually give thematic titles to my Facebook posts, but I am going to do so when I post about the resistance taking place today--the much-needed nonviolent resistance to the increase of evil in our nation and elsewhere in the world. When you see "Resistance," you will know that what follows relates to it in some way, and you can decide whether or not to read on.

Honestly, I wonder what good resistance posts do. Most of you who pay attention to my page already share my views, and some of you are more involved in the resistance than I am. So, why bother? Why add more words to the pile? I can only respond with these words attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer,

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Try as I might, I cannot separate myself from the indictment these words carry for any of us who might keep quiet and do nothing. I have no idea if anything I post will make a hill of beans of difference, but right now that doesn't matter.

When I find myself entering into new territory, I operate on the "do what you can do" principle. With respect to resistance, I see that in terms of these things...

(1) Advocate: one more voice is one more voice. Standing with others for the right thing is always the right thing. I can do that.

(2) Articulate: we are not experiencing the results of circumstance; we witnessing acts which are born of systemic evil and are contrary to the Gospel. There is a theology of resistance that can be articulated. I can do that.

(3) Affiliate: there are local groups who are resisting (in my case, "Orlando Resistance" and "The Florida Resistance"), and linking with them can turn generalities into specifics. I can do that.

(4) Assist: even for things farther away, support is possible. Donating to groups serving on the front lines is one way. I can do that.

(5) Assimilate: through social media we can pass on collective wisdom that we come across so that our resistance is shaped by more than our own ideas. I can do that.

These threads will weave together in various ways when you see the "Resistance" identifier on my page. Years ago, I found a little poem that guides me in times like this,

"I cannot do everything,

But I can do something.

What I can do, I will do.

And I will do it for the glory of God."

I have added a final line: "And for the good of others."

May God have mercy on us, and help us say and do the right things.

Steve Harper New

The Rev. Dr. Steve Harper and his wife, Jeannie Waller Harper.

The Rev. Dr. Steve Harper is a retired seminary professor, who taught for 32 years in the disciplines of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies. Author and co-author of 31 books and a retired Elder in The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, he and his wife Jeannie Waller Harper are frequent leaders of workshops and spiritual retreats. This post is republished with permission from his blog Oboedire.