Evil triumphs when good men do nothing

I was thinking about that big kiwi church where the leaders were shamed publicly.

Not pretty.

What’s not pretty? What they were up to, or the allegations?

The whole situation, whichever way you look at it, from the victims’ point of view or the perpetrators’, it’s not pretty. No one is happy, not even the journalists who focused public attention on their stories of what was happening behind closed doors.

So, really, that’s all they were, ‘stories’?

That’s not what I said. No, they weren’t just stories.

So, they were true?

True enough for the public to see there was a problem.

You sound like you’re holding back -- what aren’t you saying here?

I’m not one to point the finger unless it needs to be pointed. It did need pointing in this situation, but it’s been pointed and now the healing has begun.

Really? What about all the damage to people

That was understated in many of those situations and overstated in others. Some were damaged far more extensively than was realised and some less than they have claimed.

What, so we made too much fuss about it?

You didn’t make enough fuss, almost none at all.

I thought the journalists did a pretty good job?

They did, but you didn’t.

Me?

Yes, you, and all the other Christians too. Isn’t it true that you personally were concerned about that organisation for years before the news broke?

Yes, can’t deny :(

And yet you said nothing? And were you the only one – or were there many others?

Well…

Don’t pretend. Over the years you had many conversations with others who were similarly concerned about that organisation’s version of Christianity.

Yes, guilty as charged :(

And yet none of you did anything about it??

Umm, well, no. Which is terrible. As I said, guilty as charged. The excessive control over others that seems common in many mega organisations should have been enough for people with a voice to speak out.

You have a voice.

Not much of one.

Remember Rosa Parks, just one small voice – and don’t forget that ‘Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.’

Looking back on what happened at that kiwi church, why do you think it took secular journalists to stand up for what was right whilst thousands of Christians turned a blind eye?

To be honest, for me it was fear of the opinions of the masses. I didn’t want to annoy the people who read my books. Christians don’t like anyone standing up and calling BS on their most popular leaders.

No, they don’t, but how does that fit with my comments that the things I do others will do too?

How do you mean?

You know exactly what I mean.

You mean you called BS on the religious leaders of your time, and yet we’re too scared to do it?

Well, do you think that’s true?

Yes. If that’s what you mean, then yes, it’s true. And I for one am guilty as charged.

Us Christians, we think that we’re more focused on truth than secular people, but I’m learning that’s not true. None of us stood up and said anything about the situation with that church, not until the secular media got hold of it.

Maybe it’s time that one of us Christians stood up and called BS on this idea that we are the most truthful of people?

Maybe. An interesting idea. But don’t hold your breath – courage is a rare commodity.

HURRY — CHRISTMAS MAILING CLOSES SOON :)