On this day, January 16th, 2023, we remember a remarkable man. Martin Luther King Jr. A man who fought for equality among all peoples, peace, and the dignity of every image bearer of God.
On this day, it’s paramount we do the endless work of remembrance. Regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic standing, creed, or background, the voice of MLK should never be forgotten in the broader conversations about racial equality and issues of injustice.
In the Jesus Story, the practice of remembering is central to a life well lived. God invites his people to remember their rescue from Egyptian oppression. A signal that all is grace. Often the remembering required a hard look at their sins and unfaithfulness of the past. A loving call to set aside everything that so easily entangles and destroys, flourishing in every way.
Each week, many churches take the Eucharist, Lord’s Supper, or Communion and remember the death and resurrection of Christ. Simple elements of bread and juice/wine serve as a memorial of what happened in the past, so we can live with hope in the future.
Remembering is also an essential practice for not repeating the past. And a practice to get us up to speed on the past when the past is difficult to swallow. Much of the work of MLK was to help people pay attention to the history and current injustices of oppressed people, and show a better way forward. Often what he encountered was indifference and ignorance about what was happening all around our country. In his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (listen here) MLK wrote:
"First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."
MLK says, either be for the fight, against the fight, but don’t live in the middle. The hard work of remembering won’t leave us indifferent.
So let me suggest a couple of ways to pay attention to the work of MLK. Perhaps a help in the hard work of remembering. A remembering that won’t leave us repeating the mistakes of the past.
1. The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. A book all about remembering the difficult past of American history, slavery, and the poor response of the church in America in the fight. Honest, brutal, and helpful.
2. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. by Clayborne Carson. I’ve read this one multiple times and highly recommend. I appreciate the way the author includes original writings and reflections from King like, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” and other writings on his philosophy for nonviolence, faith, etc.
3. King in the Wilderness. The last few years of King’s life were difficult to put it lightly. This documentary sheds light on the shifting focus of King’s work/ministry and the broader cultural struggles in the 60s.
4. “I Have a Dream” speech. We watch this speech from the Washington Memorial every year with our family.
We do it to remember...
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Happy MLK Day!
Ryan