Cowardice

[Pete_1]

Lately i have been noticing that people around me are very blasphemous, i always tend to frown at it or say a quick prayer but i find it difficult to find the courage to say something. Am i sinning by not doing this?

any thoughts,
pete

 

[Leopard]

Depends. Who are these people? are they in some way answerable to you? are you answerable to them? If you said anything, would they listen to you? Or would this egg them on to worse behavior? Sometimes silence isn’t cowardice, but prudence.

 

[rwoehmke]

One of the coolest suggestions I have ever heard for dealing with ouitbursts using the sacred names of Jesus, God, etc. was for the hearer to add aloud words such as “bless us,” “protect us”, and such like. It is not a direct rebuke and most folks would hardly want to make an issue of it. Takes a quick response though.

 

[RenaissanceMare]

Well, my mother has been known to correct anyone who uses God’s name in vain…including her own mother! So I have taken from her example and I voice my opinion when people drop the GD-bomb around me. I’ve also been known to tack on a “…bless America” when people shout out God. The only response I’ve gotten to this so far is a laugh.

 

[strngrnrth]

I’m pretty mad at myself about this too. Just yesterday I was in an art gallery and everyone but me started raving about the harm religion does and how we’re all so uch happier without it. I wanted to say something but I didn’t, at the same time. i prayed silently for another, more open, chance. But I don’t know whether I’ll have the backbone to do the right thing next time either.

 

[latinmasslover]

I have the same problem, I keep quiet when it’s people that I don’t know. “She’s just a judgmental person…she’s schismatic anyway (I’m not, BTW)…” Will they argue back and come up with a point that I can’t argue/defend? Will it do more harm than good? God knows our true motives for why we do what we do, whether it’s pride, cowardice, or prudence? All we can do is pray for discernment, ask for his forgiveness (when the motives aren’t prudence, or in some cases of cowardice, that it is venially sinful, personally). We have people at our church doing things that shoudn’t be done and I don’t say anything about it to them… …My brother, on the other hand, and his dear age of 17 (now 19 and a Navy man) would speak up in the church when behavior was inappropriate, gently at first, but very firm if it continued. I continue to pray for discernment and strength, to know when to speak up, or be silent, and to have the strength to follow that inspiration. Continually pray to the Holy Ghost.