The Beloved Community

This was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s affectionate term for the larger church that he spent his life working to rally for the sake of so many suffering the injustices of prejudice, fear, and violence at the hands of their fellow citizens and their government. While King’s work across his abbreviated life was often seen as a “Black issue” by Americans, he rightly saw it as a Christian and human issue.

He worked across denominational lines, reminding pastors and congregations of Jesus’ call always to come alongside the poor, the oppressed, the immigrant, the stranger – even the enemy – and always with nonviolent love. This he learned from Jesus and Gandhi. Increasingly, King became disappointed that the larger, white churches remained largely on the sidelines as the struggle for equal rights marched forward. “In the end,” he said, “we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“Will we as Christians be silent now?” King would ask us today.

Sunday afternoon at 4:00, I will be part of a panel discussion with three other faith leaders around Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and the impact of the church – the “beloved community.” It will be at the Robinson Fine Arts Center in Plano. All are invited to attend. I hope you’ll join us.

Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,

Matt Gaston
Lead Pastor