When I Should Intervene but I Don’t

And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.” 1 Samuel 2:23-24

Back in college, I had a professor who returned from a spring break vacation with his family to tell us a story that I’ve never forgotten. On the beach with his wife and children one day, he witnessed another father berating his son, becoming physically violent with him. My professor intervened, confronting that father’s inappropriate behavior. It was a heroic story, which I’ve always admired, hoping that I’d respond similarly if presented with the same situation. To my shame though, I’ve had opportunities when I witnessed a parent talking inappropriately to their children and though it wasn’t physical abuse, I could have stepped in but didn’t. Rather, I just turned away. Not my problem . . .

If I witness someone being victimized, and I have the power to do something about it, I’m responsible when I do nothing. This is the principle illustrated in today’s passage. In the story, Eli the priest allowed his sons to sexually exploit those women who’d dedicated their lives to serving the temple. Eli knew it was wrong and verbally chastised his sons but he did nothing to actually stop the behavior. Eventually, God sent a prophet to confront Eli, charging him with choosing his sons over God. I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them (1 Samuel 3:13). Though Eli wasn’t directly involved in the exploitation, he knew and did nothing. So, God held him as responsible as his sons.

I often write that I’m not responsible for the self-destructive behavior of others. When someone else is being injured though, and I have the power to intervene, but I don’t, then I am responsible. There are many reasons I may not want to get involved. Getting involved is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and messy. I’m just going to mind my own business. There certainly are times to mind my own business and there are times when I am truly powerless to stop an injustice. When, however, I have the ability to intervene when someone is being victimized, and I don’t, then I’m at least partly responsible for that injustice. In God’s eyes, turning a blind eye to abuse puts me on the side of the abuser.