by Bret Capranica | Jan 29, 2008 | Christian Living, Culture, Ecclesiology, Ethnic Issues
Admittedly, I normally waste Martin Luther King Day. I can’t say that I’ve read any significant biography of Dr. King. I’ve probably never taken the day to think about his accomplishments or the implications of them. Normally, I have a normal Monday on MLK day. I don’t think that makes me a racist (perhaps I am and am merely in denial -I just don’t think so). I don’t take off on President’s Day either. I don’t celebrate Washington’s birthday. It never crosses my mind. I have wasted tons of July 4 celebrations – in terms of spending the day in patriotic reflection. If anything, my normal lack of reflection on MLK day – or any other national holiday – says more about my lack of being intentional about my life than it does any racial tendencies. Even so, I did not wast this past MLK day. Last Monday, I did in fact go to the office for our normal Monday pastors’ meeting and then left at mid-day to go home. I spent the rest of the day reading through the 9 Marks e-journal (I saved it for this day) on the Church’s response to racism. I was incredibly blessed by it. For me, the greatest articles in the journal were D. A. Carson’s article, “Five Steps for Racial Reconciliation on Sunday at 11 a.m.” This was one of the more balanced and biblical reflections on a Christian response to ethnic discrimination that I have read. Thabiti Anyabwile’s “Many Ethnicities, One Race.” Well articulated, thoroughly biblical, and if heeded, would change the language in which we speak of race, or...
