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Jesus knew this and that’s why he constantly reminded his disciples to listen to what he said and then to do it! The Apostle James repeated this message: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
My recent posts have discussed what Jesus taught about shalom, about being a peacemaker, and how his disciples interpreted this message and put it into practice in their own lives, after Jesus’ ascension to heaven.
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| Martin Luther King, Jr. |
• Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
• Pray daily to be used by God in order that men might be free.
• Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
• Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
• Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
• Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
• Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue and heart.
• Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
• Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain of the demonstration.
Martin Luther King, Jr., whose statue and memorial are now located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., claimed that his civil rights efforts were grounded in the Sermon on the Mount, combined with Mahatma Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance. He said “It was Jesus of Nazareth that stirred the Negroes to protest with the creative weapon of love.”
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| Birmingham police with dogs confront peaceful demonstrators |
So What?
- Reading about King’s life and his role in the civil rights movement has been inspiring to me. While other black radicals called for violence and riots, he remained committed to the way of peace. Can you think of other people who lived out Jesus’ teachings on peacemaking and who took their beliefs to the streets?
- Do you agree that the pledge that King’s volunteers were asked to sign is not only applicable to the civil rights movement, but it is good practical advice for how we ought to live every day as followers of Jesus? What would you add to this list?
- I was really struck by the pledge to “refrain from the violence of fist, tongue and heart.” How do you understand “violence of the heart”?
Unfortunately as the political season heats up, too many pundits (and some candidates, as well) are engaging in, rather than refraining from the violence of tongue and heart. And it's not a step too much further to that of fist. I'm praying God's common grace might bring people to the common sense of observing "with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy."
ReplyDeleteI am increasingly grieved by the political attitudes of disrespect and animosity that I am seeing from Christians in evangelical and mainline settings. The level of disdained and disrespect is very high. When Pres Bush #2 was in office the vitriolic language was intense. Now that Pres. Obama is in, it is the same - just from the other side. Perhaps it’s the other side taking revenge for what Pres. Bush endured. Perhaps it’s racism. Perhaps it’s skepticism that politicians can do anything good.
ReplyDeleteWhatever it is, I long for wise Christ-centered leaders to help us in the local church to begin to speak into this situation. I dream of Christ-centered office holders crossing the political lines and speaking to the public, to the media, to their colleagues about what it means to work together even when we disagree. I am not wanting these leaders to say that "their relationship as brothers/sisters in the Lord" trumps substantive differences over policy and strategy. I don’t want compartmentalized faith. Rather, we need them to speak publicly about how to disagree and how to use those disagreements as opportunities to solve problems.
We need thoughtful statements from Christ-centered (world-view sensitive) thinkers to help us to:
o see the underlying philosophies (or idols) that are perhaps controlling the public’s way of thinking/operating
o identify the principles of public life and justice which emerge from a Christ-centered world-view that guide the way we are a civil society.
Yes, I know that these issues of civility have emerged before, and that there are been some writing in some communities. But, it seems to me the vitriol is even more pronounced and even deeper entrenched. Therefore, we need help that speaks to us in the current situation.
I long for help in how to discern the significance of these trends, how to speak into them, and how to lead. John, your post is a beginning. I/we need more.