Black, White Christians Cross Racial Lines to Honor Martin Luther King
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (ANS) -- On what is believed to be the most segregated day of the week, local churches throughout the country broke down barriers to join in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A story by Audrey Barrick and appearing in the Christian Post reported that Bill Hybels' predominantly white Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., and James Meeks' largely black Salem Baptist Church in Chicago – two of the Chicago area’s biggest evangelical churches – held joint services on Sunday, encouraging the mingling of races through worship.
The Christian Post reported Meeks told the local Daily Herald that having the largest white and black congregations in the state come together will “show the world what Christianity truly looks like.”
The weekend program was highlighted by critical discussions – titled “Can We All Get Along?” – and question-and-answer sessions about racism in America.
“People tend to do stuff with who they know,” the Christian Post reported Meeks told the Chicago Tribune. “They worship with people they know. We have to get to know each other better.”
Both megachurch pastors, who the Christian Post reported are friends, said the fight for civil rights is far from over. And across the country, many Americans, who are marking MLK Day on Monday, agreed.
“We've come a long way, but we still have a long to go,” the Christian Post reported former Sen. Harris Wofford (D-PA.), told Newsday.
In continuing the fight, the Christian Post said thousands have chosen not to celebrate the day as a holiday, but to participate in service and action.
“If Dr. King came back today, I think he would not be happy to see it as a day off rather than a day of action,” the Christian Post reported Wofford said.
Christians are taking action in educating communities about the Civil Rights Movement and instilling a greater understanding of racial injustice.
At Willow Creek, the Christian Post reported that according to the Daily Herald, Meeks told the diverse congregations about being a victim of racial profiling. He was pulled over more than two years ago by a white policeman and verbally abused in his own neighborhood.
Noting that there is a huge disparity in local taxes that fund the education of black students compared to white students, the Christian Post reported Hybels acknowledged that the playing field is still not level.
He encouraged church members to take the lead in the ongoing civil rights movement.
“As Christians, we should be the first to reach across racial lines,” the Christian Post reported Hybels said.
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