Stephen, I guess, probably made the situation worse. What he said was true, and he bravely spoke truth to power. But, maybe there was a less…inflammatory way of saying it.
Or, maybe, I’m just sensitive to tone. I get it. I get that we have to shout to be heard. I get that we can’t allow falsehoods to go unchallenged and ‘cede the square to those whose voices do not speak in charity and love. I get that, but something’s not working. And all of us are starting to pick up stones.
There was no promise that the redemption of Creation would go peacefully. Jesus told us that he came with a sword. A sword of love and compassion, which is the only weapon that can be wielded against the powers and principalities that are entrenched in our world. The powers of darkness will not give up control quietly. And any doubt about the struggle we’ll encounter in working toward the redemption of all things should be put aside when we hear the story of Stephen. It will not be easy, God is telling us.
I don’t mean to criticize Stephen’s speech. I know the words that sprang from his heart were inspired by the Spirit. Jesus promised us that when we are brought before councils and called to speak truth we would be given the words to say. And those words often transcend us, going directly to the hearts of those who stand before us.
But I wonder how often we allow our anger and our pride to change the words, just a little. Maybe we feel just a little better calling someone, like Stephen did, stiff-necked. Tossing, I suppose, a small rock.
I’m good at keeping my opinions and rants off of social media. But, Leanne will tell you that I can be very unloving in my thoughts about the state of the world and those involved in governing it. I allow my own arrogance, my moral superiority to come bubbling up from the shadowed places of my heart. And, I sound a lot more like the crowd ready to start throwing stones than someone who is trying to love his neighbor.
She has been and is good about calling me on this, which has helped me remember that the redemption of all things is an ongoing act. It is something you and I participate in every moment of every day, doing what we can to bring love to the broken places so they might heal.
And I wonder if this is the most important thing we can do when we speak, is to measure those words in love. This does not mean that we allow falsehood and hatred to be spoken without confrontation. It just means measuring the words so they are weighted heavily with the balm that can mend our broken, wounded world.
Because, I’m certain Jesus did not mean for us to move stones this way.