Becoming a New Monastic :: Part Next
Racial reconciliaiton was never something I really considered very seriously. Even after four years with InterVarsity, even after going to Cairo. But through reading Grace Matters and talking about the segregation in Detroit and Milwaukee, race has been on my mind more and more. At a bible study tonight we discussed Paul's non-condemnation of slavery in Ephesians, and I couldn't help but notice that the single black person in the circle sat silently, while the other nine around him discussed freely.
God allowed Martin Luther King Jr. to see the promised land just before his assassination. But are we there yet?
Well, I don't know what will happen now.
We've got some difficult days ahead.
But it doesn't matter with me now.
Because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.
Longevity has its place.
But I'm not concerned about that now.
I just want to do God's will.
And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.
And I've looked over.
And I've seen the promised land.
I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight, that we,
as a people will get to the promised land.
And I'm happy, tonight.
I'm not worried about anything.
I'm not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
2 comments:
I don't know. The passage you've provided from MLK reminds me of some of things I heard from speeches by Jeremiah Wright during this past election cycle. Something to consider looking at is the concept of "black liberation theology". It holds that God's "chosen people" are any people in suffering or bondage, and that liberation movement holds very firmly that the black community is being oppressed and that they are God's chosen among the oppressive whites. Interesting stuff...
In high school, I was beat up and hazed quite a number of times in track and field by the black kids on the team. They used a lot of racial slurs and insisted that I deserved it because of slavery in the 1800s. It was a painful and tough experience and it ultimately drove me away from the track team for my junior and senior years. Just wanted to share that since you are talking on issues of race.
Thanks for the personal comments, jfishjosh.
It's critical that any time we name the faults of others, we first name our own faults. Some members of the black community have done this well, others have not.
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