I don’t usually do this, but today I’m going to be political. I cannot avoid it; I don’t think I should avoid it. Today, even as we commemorate the life, work and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this country has been jolted awake – and hopefully jolted about of complacency – by another senseless act of violence. It happened last Saturday, in Tucson, Arizona. Six people died; more were injured; and our nation was traumatized once again. We cannot try to ignore it because “it doesn’t affect me” here in Georgia. And there’s no point in wringing our hands and worrying about it. And it’s unproductive to spend time finger-pointing and assigning blame. Instead, let us reach into the wisdom of Dr. King’s legacy, and let this prophet of God help us now.
In April 1963, Martin Luther King wrote “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. His words were written in a different context – racial injustice – but they are applicable now. He wrote, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”. An inescapable network of mutuality – no matter what side of the “what caused this tragedy” debate we’re on, we are in this together. Dr. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. We could say that hateful words, violence, too easy access to too many guns and too much ammo by people who are angry or mentally unbalanced – anywhere – is a threat to peace everywhere. Is the question relevant that asks whether there is a direct cause-and-effect between violent words and a particular violent action? Words have power! We know that. Martin Luther King knew that. It was true during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s and it is true about the violent social discourse that has been thrust into the spotlight with the attack last Saturday. Even if there is not a direct correlation between what has been said and what was done (and I don’t think there is), we all need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and think about how we use words.
My mentor, The Rev. Robert Layne, who marched with Martin Luther King and integrated a church in Kentucky, often told me about a rabbinic tradition. A rabbi, whose name I do not remember, said that words should only be used to prosper, bless or heal. Words should only be spoken if they prosper – bring about some good for someone – or they bless or they heal. We all need to examine our language according to those criteria.
The prophet Isaiah (49:1-7) says to the people of Israel that they are called to be a light to the nations. The early Christians carried this forward and saw in Jesus the fulfillment of the words of the prophet. Jesus became the light to the nations. And all followers of Jesus Christ are likewise called to be lights to their nation, to their society, to their community. Martin Luther King was a light! He knew the power of words, and he used them eloquently and powerfully. He was a prophet who called this nation’s attention to the cause of justice for African American people. Through his eloquent words he called this country to account for the disparity in opportunity, education, justice and freedom between white and black.
In his letter from a Birmingham jail, Dr. King challenged Christian and Jewish religious communities to live up to their call to be lights to the nation. He decried the timid words of white pastors who said, “Wait”, to the black community. Wait, now isn’t the time, be patient. He decried the words of those who said that the civil rights of African Americans were “social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern”, and those who told their congregations to comply with a desegregation decision because it was the law. Knowing the power that those pastors’ words would have had on their congregations, he longed to hear them say, “Follow this decree because integration is morally right and because the Negro is your brother.” Words have power! And how we use words has everything to do with the gospel.
As Christians and Episcopalians we vow to reflect the light of Christ and to be the light of Christ to all who we meet. We do so by proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Christ, by striving for justice and peace for all people, by respecting the dignity of every human being. That’s what lights do!
Words have power, and each and every one of us needs to think about how we use them. Do we respect the dignity of other human beings with our words? I confess that I have been guilty of breaking that vow; of making disparaging remarks about political figures who I think are just plain wrong. It’s OK to think they’re wrong – it’s not OK to call them names. I knew someone once who would say terrible, hurtful things, and when I was hurt, she would say, “Oh, I was just talking”, as though words don’t matter. They do matter!
If you doubt that words are powerful, think about what these words have meant to you. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” “I have a dream!” “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Words have power. They can uplift or destroy. They can bless or curse. They can heal or hurt, clarify or complicate, enlighten or confuse.
Martin Luther King also wrote, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” We are good people here at Nativity. Let us not be silent or timid when it comes to the issue of hateful speech in this country. Let us not be timid when we hear words that hurt or do violence. Let us not be silent in the face of violent, disrespectful, or bullying language. Let us take a stand for what is right, and say that’s enough! And let us proclaim by our words and examples the good news that we are all children of God, by not vilifying and demonizing other people. Let us strive for justice and peace by refusing to speak violently about those we oppose. Let each of us help raise the level of social discourse in this country by respecting the dignity of even those we disagree with.
Martin Luther King Jr. preached peace and non-violent resistance. He called a nation to justice for all. And for that, he was arrested and jailed; for that he was assassinated. Some called him an extremist. He was an extremist – an extremist for love and justice and peace. Jesus Christ was an extremist for love and justice and peace. We have the choice to be an extremist for hate or an extremist in the example of our Lord. We have a choice how we use our words. Martin Luther King had a dream of racial equality in this country; a dream that all people would be judged by the character of their heart and not by the color of their skin. He dreamed of a peaceful and just society. Let us, now, listen to the words of our prophets. Let us use our words to be lights in our nations. Let us use our words for love and justice and peace. Amen.
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