Day of Silence
Author: DavidJones // Category: Ethics, Pop Culture, Social Injustice, The Church, Youth Culture
Day of Silence
In doing research on the Day of Silence, this is what Wikipedia said about the event (paraphrased):
On April 17, 2009, the Day of Silence will take place in many schools across the United States. For those who are unfamiliar with the DOS, it is an annual day put together by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) that protests the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students (LGBT) and their supporters.
During this time, participants (students and teachers) take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and those who support them. The event mainly takes place in middle schools, high schools, and college campuses, but it has also started to sneak its way into elementary schools as well.
Some students choose to be silent for the entire day, while others choose to select a portion of the day. Many students also hand out cards that explain why they are being silent.
How Should Christians Respond
One of the biggest debates concerning the Day of Silence is how a Christian should respond . Many conservative organizations, such as the American Family Association, formed a coalition in 2008 and urged parents to keep their students home from school on the DOS if the school was observing it.
The Alliance Defense Fund countered this idea and began promoting the Day of Truth. This is a day that comes several days after the DOS and offers an alternative to being absent. The Day of Truth encourages students to lovingly share God’s view of homosexuality with students.
So how should a Christian respond? While there may be no clear-cut answer, I would like to offer several words of advice for dealing with this day.
1. Get educated about what is happening. In this situation, ignorance is NOT bliss. Not every participant uses this as a day to spread or promote the message of homosexuality. Most participants say this use this as a day to make people aware of the abuse (verbal, physical, and emotional) that is taking place with many homosexuals.
2. Realize we DO agree on some issues. While I strongly believe homosexuality is a sin, I also believe it is a sin to abuse or harass homosexuals, or anyone for that matter. In no way does this show the love of Christ. Yes, the cause they are supporting goes against our beliefs, but no one deserves to be abused or attacked.
3. Use the day as a chance to engage in conversation. Students can use this day as a chance to explain what they believe. If a participant has vowed to remain silent, he or she cannot talk back, but only listen. This provides a great opportunity for a Christian to lovingly explain why he or she thinks homosexuality is wrong, and to share the love of Christ. Let them know even though you don’t agree with their lifestyle, they are made in the image of God and you love them.
Small Things That Will Make a Difference
Sometimes, as Christians, we make small mistakes that have devastating consequences. There are a few things to remember when approaching the Day of Silence.
1. Don’t attack.
2. Avoid derogatory terms. For many students, the Day of Silence will bring a myriad of opportunities to throw around slang words like gay, queer, fag, and homo. Even when these words are used out of context, they are still attacks. For example, have you ever said, “That’s so gay!” or “You’re so gay!”? You might not have meant it in a homosexual context, but is what you said going to draw people closer to Christ?
The choice you make on the Day of Silence is up to you. Maybe parents will choose to keep their children home; maybe they’ll send them to school and everything will go by as routine. Maybe you’ll take the opportunity to engage those who are participating and spread the message of Christ.
Whatever you choose, please think about this, talk about this, and do something about this. Inaction can be dangerous.
For more information about this topic, visit Jonathan Yandell’s blog by clicking here: www.JonathanYandell.com
For Randall House’s followup to “Breaking the Silence” please visit Danny Conn’s blog by clicking here: www.Outpostx.net
Tags: Day of Silence, Day of Truth, GLSEN, LGBT
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This reminds me that when Jesus was on earth, he hung out regularly with “the sinners.” He ate with the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the thieves, the people that everyone else “who never sinned” were too good/ too scared to talk to.
I think avoiding people we’re afraid of because of their homosexual lifestyle goes against everything Jesus was trying to teach us while he was here. I have several friends from high school who have decided to go towards that way of life. Now, I try to talk to them more, not less.
One thing you mentioned was that we as Christians should step in if we hear others being harassed of ridiculed. I think that’s something that parents are scared for their children to do. They don’t want them “involved.” But I think that’s a very important lesson for a young student to learn. That being a Christian can be messy. We’re not of this world, but we have to be involved while we’re here. We have to step in, even if it means accepting the same abuse and being called names as well.
As a teacher, this is a very important issue for me to think about. I’m going to have to learn how to deal with situations like this. I have to find a way to deal with it while obeying the law I go by as a teacher and the law I go by as a Christian. It’ll be very interesting if I’m ever a teacher in a school that participates in this. I pray I can arise to the occasion and make a difference as a teacher.
April 7th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I agree that we need to think about what Jesus would do. Attending school does not mean we agree with the idea. In this case silence could mean consent. We need to lovingly give our views. Win with love! They will know we are christians by our love for our brother!