Today in my politics/sociology class we talked about what
the roles Protestant clergy take in the political sphere. There are examples
across the entire spectrum of disengaged all the way through to officeholders. We
talked about our role as clergy in shepherding our flock toward greater
engagement in the world around them.
Somehow we got to talking about Rosa Parks. Dr. Baggett said
that when she died, her obituary was titled “The Power of One,” which is
totally contrary to the movement in which she took part. I wrote this in my
notes:
Behind every cultural "hero" there are 1000 people licking
envelopes and having one-on-one conversations. There is no power of one.
People will get upset if clergy are too involved in politics
– especially when those clergy are fighting on the opposing side. And, sure, I
think we should preach that our people get out and make a difference in the
world. Love your neighbor. We run that phrase into the ground. But when a
clergyperson on the other side of the aisle does the same, I get frustrated.
When a clergyperson convinces his flock to do the opposite of what I’d like to
convince mine to do, I get frustrated. Doesn’t he know that’s not what the
gospel says? Doesn’t he know that’s not what Jesus meant?
As though I have the ultimate understanding of what the
gospel says and of what Jesus meant.
And someone brought up that there was once the power of one –
Jesus. But is that even so? Didn’t Jesus work with his neighbors to effect social change? Weren’t the disciples licking the proverbial envelopes and
having the one-on-one conversations, too? And the apostles, even more so? I’m
inclined to say that Jesus got the ball rolling, and that we’re still keeping
it up.
But that we’re doing it together.
And we needn’t get some sort of messianic complex and think
we’re out to save the world. I wrote this in my notes:
We don't necessarily need to be the next Rosa Parks or to
even cultivate the next Rosa Parks in our congregation. But we definitely need
to cultivate a congregation that will be ready to stand up with the next Rosa
Parks.
Amen.