The problem of Dr. King’s day and our day, as pointed out by James Cone in The Cross and the Lynching Tree, is the silence of those who might have something to say, but don’t.

Looking back on the history of lynching in America, Cone points out several white moderate theologians and comes to this conclusion from their writings: “…none of them made the rejection of white supremacy central to their understanding of the gospel.” (p 159)

Cone went on to say, “The cross is a reminder that the world is fraught with many contradictions — many lynching trees.” (p. 159)

I needed this reminder. There will be a few posts in another week reflecting on Cone’s writing in this book. We are in a day when it is necessary for followers of Christ, people of the Way, to find ways to oppose the White Christian Nationalism all around us. I write this for myself. It is too easy to stay silent and make my posts “just about the gospel.” But… the gospel is about justice and when others are treated “less than” because of their race, it is a justice issue, making it a gospel issue, and there is a need to speak up.

These are the challenges for follower of Christ in America for the foreseeable future. We are not promised an easy road. So, let’s get to walking.