I closed my eyes……

Now we come to the punishments for the grievous sins we have looked into over the last few days. We’re talking child sacrifice and adultery and incest and consulting mediums and bestiality and cursing your parents and male rape and prostitution. Those that commit the worst atrocities will be put to death and stoned or burned to death. In other cases, God will turn his face away from them and cut them off from their people. Sometimes, those involved will remain childless until their death.

And why?

Because what they have done is a perversion. What they have done is wicked. What they have done is detestable. What they have done has brought dishonour. What they have done is a disgrace.

Because God’s sanctuary has been defiled and his holy name profaned. These wicked religious practices are not a part of worship to the one true God. He is different from all the other gods. He is set apart. The worship of the one true God cannot include these practices.

Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.  Leviticus 20:7-8

God’s people have to be different because God has set them apart from the other nations. This is the right way to live. This is the way for community and family to work. We know this. We see it now. Or at least we see right before our eyes in our nation and in our communities and in our families the devastation that is caused by wrong and abusive relationships and the breakdown of family and respect for the individual.

You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.  Leviticus 20:26

Yes, you’re right. We have covered pretty much all of that ground before. But this verse is different. This verse stands out in this chapter for me.

If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.  Leviticus 20:4-5

If the members of the community close their eyes, then the consequences will be more widespread.

If the members of the community close their eyes, then they are implicated.

If the members of the community close their eyes, then they are effectively condoning the practice.

If the members of the community close their eyes, then they are complicit.

We are quick to display public indignation at the injustices that we read about on Facebook, but how often do we stand up for right in our own communities? How often do we turn a blind eye? How often do we close our eyes?

And why do I close my eyes and look the other way?

Because I am scared of causing a scene.

Because who am I to say anything?

What right do I have to get involved?

Because I want to protect my own family from backlash.

Because someone else will say something.

Because I don’t want to lose a friend.

Because it’s nothing to do with me.

Because no one will believe me.

Because maybe it’s not as big a deal as I think it is.

Because I hate confrontation.

Because I like to keep my head down and quietly get on with my own life.

Because I will look a fool.

Because I will not find the right words to say.

Because people will think I’m an interfering cow.

Because I haven’t got the time or the energy.

Have I missed anything out? Probably.

I have a massive amount of admiration for those who are prepared to stand up for what is right, for those who lend their voices to the voiceless and vulnerable in our communities. I am challenged by this.

Obviously I am not condoning barging into everyone’s lives and creating havoc and potentially harmful outcomes. These things take not only courage, but wisdom and love and kindness too. We do have to choose our battles. One battle Andy has chosen is to inform everyone that shares a Britain First post on Facebook exactly what kind of organisation Britain First is and what it stands for. One battle I have chosen is to try to teach my children not to retaliate or give as good as they get.

We cannot close our eyes to the wrongs that are going on all around us. Community is about being involved and interlinked. We are involved, whether we like it or not. We have a responsibility towards our neighbours. We are connected to the other mums in the school yard. Community only works when the members care about and for the community.

It’s time to open our eyes.