Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
We watched the movie Selma last week. It reminded us of the long struggle for civil rights, voting rights, and basic human rights. The blood-stained dream of the Declaration of Independence turned out to be more an illusion than a reality. It is clear that equal rights never really took root in the United States. It was a difficult movie to watch; the violence and inhumanity was fueled by bigotry and hate. Good Christian people, hardworking Americans, perpetrated crimes against good Christian people, hardworking Americans, who happened to be black.
The film is set in the tumultuous 1960s. It was a season of unrest in America; the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the War on Poverty, the threat of nuclear devastation. There were riots on city streets and college campuses, and our leaders were being assassinated at an alarming rate. The movie offers an interesting glimpse into the relationship of Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Lyndon Johnson. History tells us that they were on the same side of this struggle, though the President and the Prophet faced different risks and challenges. Johnson dresses down a racist George Wallace saying that he was not willing to go down in history paired with “the likes of you.” Near the end of the movie President Johnson stands in halls of power addressing Congress and a national television audience. He is bringing forward voting rights legislation that will empower and protect black voters. In a speech that shocked much of the nation, Johnson said, “The real hero of this struggle is the American negro.” And he ended with a prophetic and hopeful word: “We shall overcome.”
The struggle is not over — we continue to live with the haunting demons of our country’s history. Racism is alive and well. The struggle is not over, as white supremacy again rears its ugly head and threatens the citizens of our nation. The struggle is not over, but we have come a long way. The blood of martyrs has brought us closer to the dream. The blood spilled on the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma must not be forgotten. The life of Martin Luther King Jr., cut short by violence, lives on as we move together toward the “promised land.”
The struggle is not over, but it is not the 1960s. We shall overcome. It will not be easy or comfortable, but the light will overcome the darkness. As we have witnessed, the racist virus that has plagued humanity for centuries will not be cured in a few decades. The struggle is ongoing, but we will overcome. The future of our nation and the future of our children is dependent upon our victory.
Be of good courage, do not be afraid; we will be on the right side of history, and we will work for justice and peace.
One day closer.
Pastor Jim
