I heard some folks discussing the upcoming movie SELMA yesterday.
I’m anxious to see the movie. I hope it’ll contribute in a positive way to the current national dialogue.
The discussion drifted to the danger faced by those who marched. One person wondered, “Where did Dr. King and his followers find the courage to continue their commitment to nonviolence?”
Sadly, no one on the panel had a response. Apparently they believed nonviolence was a tactic, a means to a strategic end.
I wish someone had explained that Dr. King followed the One who said, “Take courage. I AM. Don’t be afraid.” He found courage from the One who said we don’t have to allow fear to control us because we could lean on Him.
For Dr. King, courage and nonviolence weren’t means to an end. They WERE the end–justice and nonviolence were intertwined with faith and the obedience of doing the right things the right way.
It’s sad that the folks on the panel didn’t understand that Selma and The Montgomery Bridge weren’t about personal strength and faith in self. They were about humility, service, and sacrifice, based on faith in Jesus.
Hollywood movies and TV discussions don’t always portray those well. We can.
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