Many Americans will have a holiday from work today. It is a day set aside to honor the work and memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. who stirred the nation’s conscience and led African Americans in peaceful protest to gain the rights promised to all of our citizens. This year, with the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency, the day takes on even more meaning. The fruit of Dr. King’s labors is readily evident as an African American prepares to take the oath of office. Regardless of our personal politics, this is something we can all celebrate, a watershed day in our national story. Does Obama’s election mean that racial divisions are gone? Of course not. Bigotry stills has a grip on millions in ways both conscious and unconscious!
Disciple, you and I are called by Christ Jesus to live without hatred, to let the Spirit root out the mistrust of those different from us. What did He say were the two basic demands of God for all of us: to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those words roll so easily from our tongue. They just must be true, right, and compelling- and they are! Yet, the history of the Church has too many tragic chapters where hate was given the sanction of her leaders. The Scripture were and are abused to support suppression of human rights and dignity. Frequently ‘the way things have always been’ was confused with ‘the way things ought to be.’
We still have issues with which we wrestle. A couple of examples would be –
· How do we understand what the Bible says about homosexual behavior and apply that within the teaching of Jesus about the worth and dignity of every person? No simple answer there!
· How do we remain faithful to the basic teaching of the Scripture about the difference between male and female roles in the family and yet honor the New Testament reminder that "all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NIV)? Not a simple answer there either!
We must not settle for just tolerance. That word annoys me! I have not honored Christ by just tolerating a person who is of a different race, religion, or color! I honor Him only if I genuinely love that person as I love myself. That, dear friend, requires more than I can muster up in myself. John says that “we love others because God loved us first!” The love of God for us should produce a profound sense of humility and obligation: humility that wonders ‘why me, Lord?’ and obligation that says I must share the love I have been given with those who need Him!
Today, I encourage you to take a few moments to pray for racial reconciliation here in these United States. Ask God to bring Light to the darkness of ignorance and hatred. Ask His blessing and protection for our President-elect for these are difficult times and if he is successful in office, he will need the wisdom of the Lord. Thank God for what has been accomplished and invite Him to make you a part of what remains to be done – for the praise of the Name of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment