How many holidays are
dedicated to a pastor? We’ve got a couple for saints (Valentine and Patrick),
but whatever Christian origin those holidays had they’re now drowned in romantic
love and beer. In an age when marketers will use George Washington to sell
anything, it’s at least still considered tacky to offer MLK Day sales (though
as Stephen Colbert pointed out in 2011, it’s happening).
“This holiday should be
a big deal for churches,” our founder Brad Abare wrote about MLK Day, “Outside
of Christmas and Easter, no other holiday represents the heart of God so much.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
is our people. Churches should be embracing and celebrating this holiday like
no other.
2. We’re Not Innocent
We tend to look back on
the civil rights movement with rose colored glasses. It was a just cause and
simply inevitable, right? Wrong. King went to jail. While sitting there, he
wrote a letter and referenced the many Christians who stood silent:
“All too many others
have been more cautious than courageous and have remained silent behind the
anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows.”
While the church may be
able to claim the greatest civil rights hero of the 20th century, we’re also
complicit in the injustice King stood against. For all the marches and lunch
counter sit-ins, we forget that there were also “kneel-ins” targeting segregated
churches. Yeah, the ‘bad guys’ weren’t just swinging batons and
fire-bombing buses. Churches barred the doors and wouldn’t let people in.
Churches must own our
broken past and work for a better future.
“This holiday should be
a big deal for churches. Outside Christmas and Easter, no other holiday
represents the heart of God so much.”
3. We’re Not Free at
Last
We haven’t made it to
the mountaintop yet. Electing (and reelecting) a black president is an
incredible milestone, but it doesn’t mean racial issues are behind us. See:
Ferguson. People still argue about the details, but similar incidents—including
Eric Garner and Tamir Rice—spark even more debate and protest.
If the headlines don’t
convince you, maybe the research will. We have come along way in racial
relations (say 74%), but 81% say we have a long way to go.
Your church should care
about MLK Day because it’s a ready-made opportunity to bring the gospel to this
often divisive issue. We’re still short of King’s dream and we’ve got some work
to do.
4. Speak Up for the
Minority
“On the surface, most
Americans agree that racial reconciliation matters,” says Ed Stetzer, executive
director of LifeWay Research. “But we’re divided about how important this issue
is. For many white Americans, progress on issues of race is a good thing but
not urgent. For many African-Americans, it’s front and center.”
Even if this issue isn’t
pressing for you personally, it is an opportunity to speak up for the minority.
That’s something the Bible continually champions with calls to care for the
“alien, the fatherless and the widow.”
I can’t say it enough:
MLK Day is the church’s holiday.
How Can My Church
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
OK, we get it. MLK Day
is a holiday we should get behind. So what can we do?
Lots. It’s probably too
late to plan your own event, but there’s plenty you can do to take part in
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and celebrate the legacy of this Baptist minister.
1. Not a Day Off
First and foremost,
don’t take the day off. Yes, it’s a federal holiday. But it’s also an
opportunity to do good. Make it a day to volunteer. Look for local
opportunities to serve and mobilize your church to take part.
2. Post to Social Media:
Free MLK Day Graphics
Share something on
social media honoring King. There are plenty of inspiring quotes to choose from
and ways to connect the dots between King’s life and the work of your church.
Ask people to share their dreams. Ask about people’s memories of King. Ask
people to confess their embarrassing stories of confusing Martin Luther and
Martin Luther King Jr. (at some point we’ve all been there).
3. Confront Racial
Realities
A recent study showed
there’s not much diversity among our friends. On average, for every 91 white
friends a white person has, they have only one black friend. Blacks do better
with 8 white friends for every 83 black friends. But a full 75% of white people
have zero black friends.
Not an easy conversation
is it? Kind of awkward.
But it’s a conversation
we need to have. Use MLK Day to address racial issues in your church, your
families, your friends and neighborhood.
(And let’s be clear: A
lack of diversity does not make anyone racist. These stats are the simple
reality that we’re segregated, hopefully unintentionally. Let’s change that.)
About the author
Kevin D. Hendricks
When Kevin isn’t busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing isn’t writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998 and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies, and all the Center for Church Communication’s books.
Researchers reveal that one of the biggest challenges for families is losing a loved one. Whether the loss is recent or it occurred a decade ago, this time of year often highlights absences and brings intense feelings of grief, loneliness and emptiness. You may even feel guilty if you find yourself having a good time.
Innocent gestures may also
spur feelings of sorrow. For instance, receiving a holiday card addressed to
your late loved one from a well-meaning friend who doesn’t know the
circumstances may cause your grief to resurface. On the other hand, it can also
be stressful when family and friends purposely don’t mention your loved one’s
name to avoid upsetting you.
These feelings are all
normal, but to help you get through these tough times, talk about how you would
like to handle the situation with someone you trust. That person can then
communicate your wishes to others. If you want to do something to honor your
loved one, there are different ways you can pay tribute. Choose whatever feels
right. Consider the following ideas:
Place
the person’s picture in a place of prominence at home.
Light
a memorial candle.
Make
a photo album of previous holidays together to focus on positive memories.
Set
aside a time so that everyone who wants to can share a memory or a funny story
about the deceased.
Toast
to your loved one.
Go
to church or synagogue.
Volunteer
to help those in need.
Remember that not everyone
grieves in the same way. There is no accepted norm. You may cry at the drop of
a hat, while someone else is more stoic. Some people may grieve for weeks, and
others mourn for years. Understand that the holidays won’t be the same as they
used to be, but recognize that the “new normal” can be fulfilling in other
ways.
Unlike many, the
holiday season doesn’t officially begin at Halloween, since for me, this season
holds a very sacred place. Thanksgiving opens the season by causing us to
pause, in gratitude for all of God’s blessings. We then enter the season of
waiting and preparation for the coming of the holy child, Jesus Christ. This
season of Advent, the first season on the Christian calendar, is four weeks in
which we focus on the four themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. The
twelve days of Christmas then follows, after which the season of Christmastide
enters in.
By the time you read
this message, the gratitude, preparation, celebration and cleanup of
Thanksgiving will have already occurred. Let’s settle ourselves now and begin
to prepare in a deeper way, to absorb the real meaning of what Christmas should
mean to us. I hope you will join my family in reading the book of Luke for the
month of December so that by Christmas Eve, the decorations, wrappings, tinsel
and other accoutrements that accompany the pagan roots of Christmas to take a
back seat to the true meaning of this sacred season. From our home to yours,
may you and your family be blessed beyond measure, during this most sacred
season.
“God, please let every veteran of our nation’s armed forces feel
truly and appropriately honored by the attention and appreciation of their
fellow citizens. Let no one feel forgotten or neglected. Let every man and
woman, young or old, feel the deep and enduring gratitude of our nation and its
inhabitants.” Amen
Something about the cooler temperatures and the changing season just puts many of us in a reflective mood. That makes autumn a perfect time to hear what God’s saying amidst the sound of leaves crunching and the scent of pumpkinflavored coffees. To get you started, here are seven Scriptures that can help you grow deeper in your faith this fall.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” —Psalm 19:1 (KJ2) The sky on a clear fall day can be the most incredible shade of blue— especially against the background of changing leaves. One glance gives us a clue that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. Take some time to enjoy the wonder of His work.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) Whether it’s leaves changing in your backyard or you changing your clock for Daylight Saving Time, autumn reminds us that nothing stays the same forever. Change is one of the few constants in life, but that’s okay. God has perfect timing, and He has a purpose that stretches into eternity.
“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you.” — Psalm 31:19 (NIV) God doesn’t just give us a few blessings. He pours out an abundance of good things on our lives. Fall offers the perfect time to reflect on His goodness toward us. His blessings really are new each day (Lamentations 3:22-23).
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” —Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Fall is a season of harvest, so it’s good to remember that we always reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Sometimes, we get discouraged and wonder if the seeds we plant will ever sprout. Fall assures us that harvest day is coming, so we have to stick with the work.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” —James 5:7 (NKJV) Patience may be a virtue, but it’s never easy. This agricultural illustration with a fall flavor reminds us that we have to develop patience. God will work out His plan in His timing. We can trust His work, even when He’s not working on our timetable.
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” —Isaiah 40:8 (NAS) Dried leaves crunch beneath your feet, and the grass is a sad shade of brown. The air turns crisp—maybe even cold. It’s the annual transition from the life of spring and summer to the hibernation of fall and winter. But while seasons shift, we serve a God who never fails. He stands forever—and new pages on the calendar can’t change that.
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” —Psalm 9:1 (NIV) Article excerpt from www.crosswalk.com
