The year after graduating from high school, we were having a guy’s night out on a Friday night. A few beers and just sharing with my friend Gordon and another friend who I’ll not name. We stopped to get gas and happened upon a motorcycle gang that this evening was in a car. They were a bit drunk and looking for trouble. I did my best to ignore them while I pumped the gas. They then started to close in on us. I maneuvered my car quickly to get out and avoid trouble. We later stopped in at Walls Dairy, a mainstay in East Hampton where we lived, for coffee and conversation with whoever we ran into. Then someone said I needed to get outside as there was trouble. As I walked out, I saw Gordon face down on the ground. Out cold. I was concerned if he was even alive, as I couldn’t see his body move. Was he even breathing? Blood was coming from his mouth and nose. I asked in anger, “Who did this?” Seven guys around him said “we did.” It was the gang from the gas station. I was angry. But there was seven, and no one had come to Gordon’s aid. He was my friend, so I came in swinging. I took quite a beating that night but I also got in a few good licks. As I was on the ground, they started kicking me. A lady intervened screaming at them. They lied and said we tried to run them over. She told them she didn’t care and stood in the midst of them screaming. They decided to leave as someone called the police. I was dazed from being briefly knocked out but managed to get up and see they had left a couple of their crew behind in their haste to flee the coming police. The third friend suddenly appeared and I grabbed onto him, made it to my car, and grabbed a radiator hose from my trunk. We caught one of those left behind and I introduced him to the radiator hose with a good swing. He and one other of their group was apprehended by the police.
The next day, I went to see my friend Gordon. I couldn’t recognize him. Broken bones in his face made him unrecognizable. Both eyes were shut. I was outraged all over again. But this time we left it to the law. What I found most amazing was there were quite a few of our “friends” that were in the back part of the Walls Dairy parking lot that night who had known Gordon since the first grade. They were afraid to get involved, even for a friend. That always stayed with me. It was a tough lesson to learn regarding those who would just stand by when evil was being perpetrated. Even to a friend. I’m not that guy anymore that confronts violence with violence, but standing against evil is still a priority with me. Always.
The Message Bible says in Proverbs 24, “If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. Rescue the perishing, don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, ‘Hey, that’s none of my business,’ will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know – Someone not impressed with weak excuses.” We live in a time where evil is tolerated and bad behavior is excused. We live in a time where those who you might look to for succor openly embrace that which afflicts you. Where the church walks hand in hand with those who are the living embodiment of everything opposite of the Sermon on the Mount. And no one has an excuse. James 4:17 tells us that “to him who knows the right thing to do and does not, to him it is sin”. How many stand idly by while the rights of those of color are being infringed on? Black history being erased so as not to cause distress to those reading about it. Or, just changing it. Rosa Parks putting her life at risk only to be seen as a person of no distinct color riding on a bus. To paraphrase what Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, “If you were blind, you’d have no sin, but you say you see, therefore your sin remains.” How many say they have a walk with Christ, yet do not help those who are oppressed, in need, hungry, or being cheated? How many follow those who lay hands on one who epitomizes evil and say they speak God’s word. How many have no problem watching evil unfold in Charlottesville, Virginia when those walking lockstep with a Nazi spirit say “Jews will not replace us.” Are you still able to be a bystander? Is your conscience not pricked even slightly? Isaiah was quite clear and to the point in stating what the Lord was saying when he spoke, “What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” (Isaiah 3:15) Habakkuk was just as direct in 1:13 saying “Why do you look on those who do treacherously and hold your tongue when the wicked devours?” We are in treacherous waters without a paddle. This quagmire we are in is becoming more hazardous and will only pull you deeper into the darkest pits unless you stand and be counted. We cannot be a bystander in these times. We cannot remain silent. It’s getting late. Be like the woman who jumped into the middle of the motorcycle gang to stop the evil they were doing.
We must take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) that we may be able stand against this evil. We’re not wrestling against flesh and blood, but demonic powers and principalities. And so many have already succumbed to this evil, yet pretend to be followers of Christ. You’ll know them by their fruit. As Dr King said, the ultimate tragedy is not the oppressor and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence by the good people. We must not be conformed to this world but must embrace Jesus and His teachings. Press into Him daily. Always. Know Him. Abhor evil and hold fast to that which is good. I pray a spiritual boldness to speak and stand no matter what we face. If God is with you, who can be against you. Blessings.
Stand My Watch 