TWO DAYS TO CELEBRATE
On Monday we remember the work of Martin Luther King Jr.'s peaceful but strident movement against racial injustice. On Tuesday the United States will inaugurate our first black President. There are still many racial injustices in our country. But during these two days, we can celebrate an important milestone in the journey. It is not the finish line. But it is a milestone that can spur us on with hope to continue to make progress at an even faster pace than before. Everybody, black or white, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, has a reason to celebrate.
In the last few weeks I have received emails from friends who say the end of the US is at hand. I have other emails that say the true Christian heritage of freedom for all in the US is just beginning. Some are in despair. Others are gloating. For the Christian, this change of leadership brings genuine things to be concerned about as well as genuine things to celebrate. Even with these concerns, for at least these two days, we need to celebrate as a common voice from the depths of our hearts a true milestone of racial reconciliation.
It is unfortunate that we as Christians have to process a milestone like this through the window of a mass media that often doesn't understand the mindset of Christ. We may view the inaugural events close up and in high definition on our TV sets, but the commentary that goes with it creates a blur. News is entertainment. It has to present complex issues in sound bites. Ratings increase when news over-exaggerates differences. News shows must create a constant story of winners and losers. Over time, people watching these events are increasingly polarized, so talk shows, TV hosts, and even whole networks emerge that cater only to one side. The other side is absent, so they can be portrayed with vitriolic certainty as idiots at best, evil at worst.
At Bakke Graduate University our faculty, students and alumni are specialists in urban relief, development and advocacy. We are united by God's calling for the poor, for justice, for biblical knowledge that compels us to live with those on the margins in the global cities of the world in a way that transforms us, them, and the places where we serve together. It is good that we agree on this, because there is little else that we agree on. We come from 40 different countries and many diverse races and cultures. Some of us advocate free-market approaches to urban development. Others advocate government intervention. In global politics, some see justice as military intervention to disrupt unjust governments. Others see intervention as the ultimate injustice. These are just a few of the disagreements. I could go on.
Our commitment is to unity around our biblical calling, and a civility in discussing our differences of experiences and opinions about how to live out that calling. We find ourselves often being influenced by our culture and human nature to polarize ourselves as the smart, righteous ones, and the other side as the stupid, evil ones. That is harder to do when you work daily with the 'other side' and are committed to live in authentic community.
The commitment is to stay engaged with those who don't share our view. When we refuse to exclude the 'other side' from our life, it makes us much less certain and more open to listening. It is humbling. It is exhilarating. It shows us the amazing grace of God and our dependency upon, God who is powerful above all governments, cultures, political opinions, and media hype.
I hope that for the next two days we can remove ourselves from the news-entertainment compulsion to label winners and losers. Even if you did not support President Obama or participate in the civil rights marches, you are a winner by living in a country that has passed this important milestone. Christ spoke of racial justice. For the Christian, it is a time of celebration.
Lord, keep me in a space where I am open to be wrong. But don't allow that uncertain place to become my excuse for not pursuing justice.
Brad Smith
BGU President
