December 21st
Twenty-Third Day of Advent
Seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
Colossians 3:9b-11
Imagine with me… imagine the baptism of Jew and Greek, white and black, Asian and Latino, prostitute and law follower, rich and poor. Each person drastically different. Each person radically transformed in Christ. Baptisms complete. Each person now stands united, washed in the blood of Christ, renewed in abundant life, clothed in the robes of the new self. A diverse community united.
Christ is all and in all. Amen!
This is what Martin Luther King called the “Beloved Community.” During the time of segregation and racial unrest in the 60s, MLK called for a radical solution. While peacefully standing firm against racial injustice, he also called on those being oppressed to love the segregationist.
While abhorring segregation, we shall love the segregationist.
This is the only way to create the beloved community.
Martin Luther King
Strength to Love
MLK understood that in Christ, all people stand united in the new robes of Jesus. At a time, when the white church refused to see this truth, MLK pushed for equality and unity by standing firm in truth and love. King called out wickedness while forgiving the wicked. This is Christian discipleship. King had a dream, a dream for the “Beloved Community.”
As I write this, our nation seems more racially divided than ever. MLK’s words almost seem forgotten, but we (the church) must remember. MLK envisioned a “Beloved Community,” a community of healing and unity. Jesus invites us to remember and engage in this witness… to offer hope to a hurting world. This requires difficult, counter-cultural work: mutual humility, mutual forgiveness, and mutual grace. This is the call of discipleship, the invitation to bend toward God and others.
And as we approach Christmas Day, let us seek to be unified around the baby in the manger. Let us continually strip off the old self while being continually transformed into the new self. Come to Bethlehem and see the glorious birth of our King…. let us bend our knees before the Savior and offer hope to a hurting world.
Comments