Index - Posting 17 January 2007 Vol. 3:3
God…Who executes justice for the oppressed
Psalm 146:5-6 (Amplified)
Depending on which side of the Atlantic one resides, Monday was either the anniversary of the historic innings of two English batsmen against India in 1985 or a national holiday set aside to honour the life of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King. And despite being born in Yorkshire, the greatest cricketing county in England, this week I choose to reflect on his legacy.
There have been several accounts in the national media drawing attention to King’s legacy stemming from his beginnings as a civil rights leader. This is generally perceived as his stance against racism and his advocacy of non-violent action as a means of social protest to effect change. His developing theological and political consciousness and his subsequent position and speeches, just prior to his assassination, are less considered. Little or no emphasis has been placed on his antiwar sentiments and in particular, his critique of American imperialism and his opposition to the Vietnam war. Similarly, his concern at the lack of economic justice was foundational to his call for the redistribution of economic power to alleviate poverty among us. This fuelled allegations of communist leanings and heightened his surveillance by the FBI. Others have taken the open and inclusive nature of his understanding of civil rights and have expanded the boundaries to include all human rights - all aspects of our rights that can be violated, based on ableism, age, class, gender, race and sexuality, to name the more obvious. Despite his many documented personal failings, King left all of us with many gifts and much food for thought and action.
I wrote the above over a week ago. But this posting remained incomplete as I was unclear as to my intend. What was it I wanted to say? And today, whilst thinking of this week’s Post, I am niggled by knowing this unfinished piece is still in my file, awaiting a decision – delete or complete!
In the meantime, I had received a couple of block emails from religious groups highlighting King’s contribution to their organisational or personal perspectives. I had also read several comments in the national media. Basically they fall into two camps; either extolling the virtues of the early King or those advocating the radicalism within his thinking prior to his death. Associated with the observation of MLK Day, is a tradition of the publication of “Dear Martin” letters, where the laity, clergy and theologians, collectively or singularly write public letters appraising MLK of the progress of his vision with regards to racial and social justice. Whilst a USA phenomenon, I was heartened to see a notable U.K theologian being prepared to stand up and be counted, in a letter penned to the media in 2005. His name was included among a list of over fifty persons prepared to make their views public. Here is a key paragraph from that letter.
In the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, we the undersigned clergy extend the divine invitation of human wholeness, healing and affirmation to “whosoever” (John 3:16). In the best of the Black Church tradition we say, “Whosoever will, let her or him come.” Who is included in this “whosoever?.” The “whosoever” of today are the diseased and the dis-eased, the discomforted and the distressed, those who live on the margins of the marginalized, who are oppressed of the oppressed, the sexually battered and the abused, the homeless and the bereft, the HIV/AIDS infected, who are the young and old, female and male, lesbian and bisexual, transgender and straight. These are they, the children of God. they are our sisters and brothers and partners and friends. They belong to all of us. And they are very much we ourselves.
I wonder if I may be so bold as to hope that I too one day, may witness this kind of solidarity with the “whosoever” among my fellow clergy of African and European descent in the U.K. That I may also witness in my life time, an affirmation of the rightful place of all of us in the Kingdom of God evidenced by an irrevocable public declaration of the need for inclusion and love demonstrated by social justice for all. Or am I whistling in the dark?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not judged. John 3:16-18 (ASV)
May the Holy Spirit of God continue to hold you tenderly and lovingly in the palm of God’s hand.
Rev Caroline Redfearn ©blackpeoplesministries.com 2007