Pastor's Message Reclaiming our Prophetic Roots: This weekend we are called to commemorate and remember the hard fought battle for civil rights that was fought in this country less than a lifetime ago. If we dare, we will acknowledge the prejudice, inequalities and racism that have always been a part of the fabric of our society. If we dare, we will realize the fear and hatred that people of color have endured throughout our short and glorious history in this country. Given the debilitating atrocities of those realities, we are also called to remember the life transforming power of the civil rights movement. This was a movement that stood up against persecution and violence. For a while, it divided families, put a wedge in many churches, and tore apart cities and towns. Over time it cracked open hardened hearts and transformed our whole country. Great sacrifices were made and lives were lost, but through it all the rights and dignity of many people became a reality. The fight for civil rights was a both a political and social movement. To succeed, it needed laws to be passed and lifestyles to change. But for many, at its core, this struggle was mostly a religious and spiritual movement. It was grounded in the ancient prophetic voices of justice and peace in the Hebrew tradition. It was grounded in Jesus’ vision to “bring good news to the poor… and to let the oppressed go free.”(Luke 4). It was grounded in Jesus’ teachings and examples of God’s unconditional and nonviolent love for all people. It was sustained by prayer, spiritual music, prophetic preaching, Bible studies, and faith communities. It was sustained by the Spirit of God that gave people courage, hope and promise. It was faith that convicted and sustained thousands of people to take a stand and make a difference. Dr. King embodied the transforming power of active non-violent resistance to oppression. He held up the vision of God’s desire for love, acceptance, and harmony between all people. He is part of a legacy of prophetic voices that have transformed lives and communities over and over again since the days of ancient Israel. Today, we too are called to be prophetic voices around issues of oppression and injustice in our time and place. We are called to lift up the dignity of all people regardless of their ethnic origins, skin color, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or life situations. We are now more than ever called to be advocates for our earth and its delicate ecosystems. We also are called to be people of prayer, music, study, and solidarity. We too need the Spirit of God and the power of community to find courage and hope for our world. As part of this work, the Western Montana Spiritual Development Council has invited Rev. Jim Wallace to speak in Missoula on March 2 nd. Wallace is one of the prophetic voices of our time and his talk is called "God’s Politics: Practicing a Faith that Does Justice.” He is the editor of Sojourners Magazine which focuses on issues of faith, justice and politics in our country. Tickets are on sale at many local churches, the Janette Rankin Peace Center, or at Fact and Fiction. Please consider joining us! |
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