Listening to an On Being interview of Michelle Alexander recently I heard this and it stuck:
“We have become a nation of stone-throwers, and it is not enough to simply put down our own stone.”
My mind immediately went to Acts 8 and the account of Stephen’s stoning. As people began to stone Stephen for his beliefs they “laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58) and it is later reported that Saul “was there giving approval to his [Stephen’s] death.” (Acts 8:1). There is no indication that Saul (later, Paul) ever picked up a stone, no report that he actually tossed one. Still, Stephen was stoned to death.
It occurs to me, and I think occurred to Paul, that the injustice is/was the stoning. Putting my stone down does not make the stones thrown by others that hit their mark hurt any less, nor does it somehow excuse those that miss their mark. Yes, putting my stone down is good. My never picking one up is even better. But there is more to do. Paul spent the rest of his days trying to prevent the “stonings” and encouraging others to do the same. Me?
It occurs to me... 