When we talk about loving our neighbors, it’s always easy to love folks who like us and love us back. And yet on the flipside, it’s just as easy to make excuses as to why we don’t need to love those who have treated us wrong, or hurt us.
But imagine showing love to a group bent on bringing harm to you, your family and your friends — simply because of the color of your skin.
The civil rights movement in America can teach us a lot about loving our neighbor — and loving our enemies.
“The black freedom struggle is the best example of bringing together the quest for unarmed truth and unconditional love in the face of American Terrorism for 400 years. Instead of a Black al-Qaeda you get Frederick Douglas and Martin Luther.” – Dr Cornel West
When Oklahoma State Sen. Gene Stipe and civil rights activist Wade Watts walked into a restaurant in the late 1950s, a waitress confronted them at the door and told Watts, an African American, that the restaurant did not serve Negroes.
With a smile, Watts replied, “I don’t eat Negroes. I just came to get some ham and eggs.”
And as Kevin writes, that’s tame compared to Watts’ reactions to Clary as detailed in this video:
May we all have the power to love in the face of adversity. May we all have the courage to face our enemies with a smile and love. May we give sacrificial love to everyone within our sphere of influence. And may our lives exhibit the love that has changed our lives — so that it may change the lives of others as well.
I’ve shared this in several places but it’s worth sharing here again as well.
It’s not the bite size 11 minutes like Rob Bell’s video from yesterday, but its a great extended discussion on what the gospel is — and the effect it should have on our lives.
Tim’s message goes till 44 min in and then its Q&A for the remainder.
