Yesterday, as we explored how we’re “Created to Be Disruptive,” we were reminded of the profound impact that faithful disruption can have on society. One powerful historical example is the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, particularly the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other faith leaders. Rooted in their Christian faith, they challenged the oppressive systems of racial segregation and injustice.
While sitting in a Birmingham, Alabama jail cell in 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was given a copy of the local newspaper. Included in that issue was a letter submitted by eight white clergy that became known at the time as “a call for unity.” This appeal for calm was a veiled attempt to silence the enthusiasm created by the non-violent protests led by Dr. King and his associates. And, given its authorship, attempted to leverage the very authority of God.