ON MLK 2013

When we think of the intersection of religion and politics, the right wing dominates. Indeed, the lunatic fringe that captures centrist attention often claims  religious supports. Certainly, some remnants of religious left remain, but they are irrelevant as they command few in the churches. Martin Luther King was always a member of the clergy as his foreshortened life involved political life.

When I was a boy, I found King hard to grasp, but I     did sense he was preaching more than speaking. King’s political life was animated by a faith tradition.How did he not burn out in his exhausting schedule? Prayer was his indispensable stronghold. Prayer helped him face his fear. Prayer helped him discern the path to take when uncertain. Prayer gave him energy beyond his exhausted heart and body to travel more miles, to give one more address, to face one more injustice, to march in the face of police baton and snarling dogs. Prayer helped lead him to realizations such as this: “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” Look at the empathy for the enemy he was able to develop in that passage. Look at how he was able to avoid arrogant self-righteous qualities that people find so distressing in the religiously inclined. Notice how forgiveness does not come from being above someone but recognizing our common failings.

His goals were explicitly drawn form the prophetic tradition. He was keenly aware that God is the god of all life, everywhere, in every situation. The impartial god is a God of justice. the Creator God loves the fruit of divine labor. Not only was Amos 5:24 a clarion call to the future and its direction, ot was a call to enact justice, as best we can, even though we will always fall a bit short.

Scripture’s living voice moved him to the future. He could incorporate that which we think impossible on our own. “Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies. “(from "Loving Your Enemies")”  This goes beyond “heart religion and feelings” but to the core of our being and activity. Instead of being romantic about us getting along, he fully admits we have enemies. He realizes that love is not only romantic sentiment, but a real active force that could transform a George Wallace in time. Instead of hectoring in the fashion of so many liberals, King here realizes that constant barrage of criticism only tends to make folks defensive and actually reduces energy for change. He looks to the creative energies toward change as emerging from  a different position. he knows it is a pilgrimage, not instant change.

That pilgrimage is slow indeed. yet, we have moved a long way. i did not think that I would live to see an African-american president, the redemptive power of King’s program continues to give energy and a vision to a nation. His early death keeps his relative youth in amber, opening us to the best within us all.