The Ohio Independent Baptist, February 2002

Ethnic Diversity: Responding Biblically Marti11Lutherl · gDay n response to our nation's observance of Martin Luther King Day, we are devoting this issue of the 018 to an emphasis on ethnic diversity within our Fellowship of churches. Martin Luther King was a civil rights leader who advo– cated non-violence in a decade full of violence. He advocated peaceful ways to establish social justice. We may not agree with every aspect of his doctrine, nor may we approve all the features of his lifestyle, but we do realize that the cause of racial equality and justice is legitimate and Martin Luther King stood cou rageously for privilegeswe hold dear. Sadly, his life was cut short by an act of violence; he was assassinated April 4 , 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Eighteen years later, in 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring the third Monday in January a public holiday in honor of the birthday of Dr. King. Our nation was in a state of turmoil during the 1960s; fellow believers stood on both sides of the race issue. Believ– ers in our own Fellowship waffled as to how to respond to this national dilemma , and sometimes as to how to respond to fellow believers. In recent years, our national GARBC Fellowship has attempted to bui ld a bridge of love to believers of color . We are thankful in our OARBC Fellowship to have three black pastors, as well as to have several churches with ethn ic diversity in their congregations. It seems only right that we ask our fellow believers to share their perspec– tives on Martin Luther King Day. Therefore, we include two brief articles on the subject "What Martin Luther King Day Means To Me And My People" by two of our pastors. We want our black brethren to know that we as a Fellowship ca re enough to listen, to learn , and to love. Myrle Weems is a graduate of Cedarvi lle College and pastors the West Bethel Baptist Church on Cleveland 's West Side. For several years he worked a longside Pastor and Mrs. Bud Sidle in this church . "Doc" Matlock pastors the Gospel of Christ Baptist Chapel on Cleveland's East Side. He is a graduate of Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland and has had a long-standing relationship with our fellowship . What Martin Luther IGng Day Means To My People b 1 Myrle Wce1ns "Because .\trail is the gate, and narrolr is the "1 'U) ', l1'hicli leadeth unto life. ancl (ert ' there he that find it" Matthelv 7: I4. Our 1nner-ci ty church consists pr11nar1 ly ofan econo1nicall,' deprc!)sed people of var1ou~ race'). naLionaltt1es. and fan111 1 ~tructure5. ()ur ch, ldren are ton tinuall y con- Myrle Weems fronted \\ 1th vio lence. and a lack of d1~ciphne 1n our school'>. ne1 ghborhood5. and 111 n1any of our ho1nes. ·1 he teaching of (. hr1 st 111 our chu rch regu rd111g non-\ 1oh:nLc t"> not h.:1npe1 t:d by parental conccn1s for \Cl f– dcfcnse . \\c don't try to dilute (iod '~ Word in ou r preaching or leaching: ho\\'e\ er, \.\' c.: do respect pctrental Loncc:1 ns forsL11,i,al of the fillcsl. 'I he lite ot l)r Martin l .. uthcr King. Jr., exe1npl i1ies sonic uJ the characteri st1L ~ that 'lu isl set tor 11 is follo,ve1s. I Ic \Vas a n1an o1 co1npassion , \\ 1 ho set ved as an ad, Ol atc tor a 1nass of disenfi·anchised people I Ie \\ as a sy1nbol of hope fo1 the hopclcs.., and an exan1plc uf lo\ c fo1 the lo, c less 1)1 King'~ e a1nph: of nu11 -violc.:1H:e h:ct<ll't ship f<>J , ight\:Ollsth?ss, anti .ts 1l spul t:: 111an fl.H the helpless, ser, es tt a 1nodel fo r our children today. His life' exa1nple rc1nind u of our ervice to an un popular cause, to an un popular peop le, and at unpOJ)ular tin1es. l t rcn1inds us of how Chr i t never sought to be "po lit ically con·cc t, " or popular b)' the \VOrld' s standards. We arc chal– lenged by Dr. King's cxan1p lc to be unafraid of the n1ultitudcs. to trust ( ' hri st as our Deli verer, and to let our It es cxc1nplify Jl irn. What Martin Luther IGng Means To My People by I~. Lee Matlock, Sr. 'The .. grcalnc\~" that 1)1 . t\1arun Luther King, Jr. achtc\ ed \\. as not by n1an ·, hand 1n rece1, 1ng the obel Peace P111c but by (,od ', hdnd 111 ht "i reaching out lo llldnkind 1n prol e~-,– ing the lo,eol <,od to d 11 - R Lee & Stephanie Mallo<.k ll ctd ll sl.' hl~ 1,u~ted (Jod ', \\ 01d 111 :-iho\\ tng IO\l lor all 1c.:g<11dl l·~s ul thl' ci rcu111~ldlll'L',(John I 11-t \"), his ·\Jr l:'atn" hL·ldllh: a 1eaht) I le h,okl· VBS W/(I IT.ATIOl ?.\\\\'l Exciting, dramatic theme. paclced with adventure for children! ~ • NEW! Easier-te>Follow Director's Guide • NEW! User-friendly Teacher's Guides • NEW! More Child<entered Leaming • NEW! Fun Children's Music • NEW! Larger Bible Story Visuals • Powerful Bible Content and Stories • Strong Evangelism Emphasis • Creative Crafts and Games Regular Baptist Pres., Building Lives oy the Book Saturday. March 23. 6·00 p m Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Cleve Hts $10 1n advance, $11 at the door call now 216-371-3870 barriers and ,, ithstond uppre:--,ttHl .111d rL'"it"i tancc like a true .. ,uldtl' I.. ol' ( ' h11,1 ( [\ 1,\ tt h c,, 5. I I ; 11 I II nut h) i l 2 ) n L', e I Sl'L'htllg rccogntl1011 for htlll -..elr I )1 K11H.!. ..... ll' l.?,dl'\ 10 .d i hL'lil'\ L') ', llld,l\ .... ~ . ,.... to tL'ach out tu Ll lo-..t .ind d, Ill!.! ,, lH Id . ~ b\ -.. ho,, Ill!.! th.it ,, c belie, l't-.. ,Ill' ' \)111.: " ... 1n(. ' h11 -..t( l{o1nan" 10 l.2 - l ,) \\ l' , lll' 111.111\ L' l> lur-.. . but,, L' ,11 L' <>\I l Lt,-.. 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