Over the last few years of my life, around this time of year, I have been placed in a conundrum in my life. Every January the celebration of Martin Luther King’s (MLK) Birthday and the Sanctity of Life Sunday seem to fall on the same Sunday.
Growing up in Kansas City I went to a traditional Black church every Mid-January we spoke of Dr. King and his Christian impact on the nation in the civil rights movement. Now that I’m a part of a majority Caucasian church Mid-January’s bring reflections the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision. If you didn’t know Sunday (1/19) was “Sanctity of Life Sunday” is followed by Martin Luther King Jr Monday (1/20), which is followed by Roe V. Wade’s 41st anniversary on Wednesday (1/22). There is a chilling contrast between the January 20th celebration of the life of MLK and the advancement of civil rights his legacy leaves; while simultaneously mourning the January 22nd anniversary of legalized abortion and the millions of innocent dead babies its legacy leaves. Depending on the context, it seems that focusing on one issue or the other we are missing the boat on one of the most incredibly important subjects that affect our church today.
“…it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
How much have things changed? This is the largest chasm that is extant in the body of Christ in the US. Our continued segregation preaches something to our surrounding culture, and it is not positive about the Kingdom of God. We must find a way to intentionally seek racial reconciliation while addressing such a grievous sin of our nation, which happens to affect African Americans disproportionately. The problem is both [majority] Black and Caucasian churches miss the issues that have not historically effected our communities, by doing this we miss the larger issue that severs the Kingdom of God and is simultaneously is destroying lives.
So what’s the solution? Maybe churches should make this a period of intense focus both on the protection of life and racial reconciliation. I do not think that this is a mistake by God but orchestrated in His plan for us to take advantage two subjects that seem so different yet speak to similar injustices in our nation and in the Kingdom of God.
“The Negro cannot win if he is willing to sacrifice the futures of his children for immediate personal comfort and safety. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As someone who knows the devastating loss both personally and through those closet to me of suffering a miscarriage, today I truly am grieving! I cannot fathom choosing to get rid of a fetus in the first trimester. I had my miscarriage at 10 weeks and only this last October. To think that women choose this in this country leaves me so sad and feeling the brokenness of such a loss. I also know the outcome of not going full term and loss of life to soon. There is a feeling of overwhelming emptiness and guilt, even if it’s not your own fault, that happens. Having carried to full term and delivered two children successfully I know that the only way to fill that emptiness is to hold that child. In the short time they were away from me getting cleaned up I felt empty. The moment they were placed in my arms It was gone. I pray so hard for those who are suffering this emptiness and not really knowing why. I hug my two children close and grieve for those who never had a chance. I also praise God that the compassion and justice that is him lets us reach out to these women and stand up and fight for lost rights as well as racial reconciliation. Loss and struggle is something all man kind has in common. Hope and joy is what every Christian has to share!
My goodness, thank you so much for sharing such a personal reality with us.