The things that matter most

Going back to my days in junior high when I first started learning about the man, I have deeply admired and respected the words and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Whether listening to audio clips from his famously  delivered ‘I Have a Dream’ speech or reading his ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ or watching the fiery close to his ‘I’ve been to the Mountaintop’ oration given the evening before his assassination, I’ve always been moved by the passionate persistence of King. While many will often talk of what they believe to be right, so few are willing to risk much to see their hopes and beliefs fulfilled. Dr. King was one of those rare individuals that did. So, on this day in which our nation pays tribute to the former reverend and Civil Rights leader, may we be challenged to ponder the things that matter most.

Of the numerous quotes so powerfully uttered by King, the following is one that I’ve been thinking on a lot recently. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Considering the time and context that birthed such a phrase, we know how tragically true this is. Many men and women and congregations passively sat in opposition to the darkness of the day, refusing to engage the racial injustice of the time. As bystanders they watched such hatred parade about. How great the regret must be that accompanies that type of silence!

But as you know, there are many pressing issues in this day and age as well.  There are topics the Church must be willing to address. Sex trafficking and abortion are a couple matters easily identified. There are others that are probably coming to mind now without me even mentioning them. Funny how we are often well aware of the problems, yet far disengaged from seeking a solution.

In the next few paragraphs, let’s consider something together. If it is true as King states, that our life begins to end when we become quiet about what’s important, is it then possible that real life (something far beyond our mere day-to-day existence) is discovered when we break such silence? Is there also a chance that certain injustices are allowed in this world so that we might stand against them? Maybe the tension we feel is graciously given so that we might be involved in fighting for something more than ourselves – so we might find an eternal value far greater than any comfort or apparent safety that can be offered in our complacency. I say “apparent safety” because I remember the reverend’s words and wholeheartedly agree. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Is there anything more moving than seeing one stand for that which is good and right and holy? What is more joy-filled than seeing the beauty of light pushing back darkness? I do not pretend to flippantly charge this as an easy task. No sir, no ma’am it is not! However, I do believe this to be our call. There are many tough questions and many hard topics that are rooted in every variety of hurt and pain. Yet the Gospel offers an answer. In fact, it offers the only answer. And please hear this... The Gospel not only beckons us to fight for the unborn, but it begs us to remember the mother that is wrestling with what to do. The Gospel implores us to look after the orphan but it also motivates us to throw healing arms of compassionate love and comfort around the one who has given up a child. The Gospel not only pleads for us to persevere against the injustice of this world but it offers genuine hope and forgiveness to those plagued with the hatred that fuels such oppressive evils.

It would seem the type of trusting obedience that leads into action, when coupled with the constant heralding of good news, would closely resemble the kind of reckless, courageous faith we are called to be a part of. Maybe when we examine our own transgressions and motives and struggles and prejudices, we can then look beyond ourselves…and do so with grace and mercy. MLK once described why passivity doesn’t work for the believer. He summarized Jesus’ teaching of the Good Samaritan in this way:

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But the Good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’”

I’m fully aware that Dr. King was far from perfect and I make no attempt to deify him at all. I’m also convinced that one needs not be perfect to be heroic, nor is perfection required to point to the One that is. Today, I simply ask you the question I’m forced to ask myself. It is one embedded in the scriptures and one the great leader often asked: “What are you doing for others?” King has been noted as saying, “The time is always right to do what is right.” But the bible takes that novel thought a step further in James 4:17 – “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” May we learn from our history and see the pressing needs of this age. May we be filled with Christ’s compassion for our brother and deeply contemplate our involvement in the things that matter most.

matt@nbchurch.info     Twitter: @FattMowler     Facebook: TheFattMowler