Let’s Walk in the Light: God’s Beloved Community

By Scott Allman

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

I John 1:5-7

We must face the sad fact that at eleven o’clock on Sunday morning when we stand to sing In Christ there is no East or West, we stand in the most segregated hour of America.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A couple of Sundays ago, right here in the pulpit at First Congregational Church, our guest Dr. Reiland Rabaka held the congregation in his loving heart and sparkling intellect. If you missed it, stop reading this now and watch the video recording (see link below). He entertained us with a Country Preacher style – “Give me an Amen!” – as he hopscotched from Bible verse to verse. He spoke about his experience as an African American in Boulder, Colorado. Best of all, he introduced God’s Beloved Community.

So, what makes a community, let alone a beloved one? Dr. Rabaka’s vision is clear. Some communities are formed by accident when you are with the same folks over and over. Think of your coworkers. Nope, we are not talking about that type of community. A beloved community is not a spectator sport.

Some communities are formed by shared experiences. On the Selma, Alabama, Pilgrimage last month, we listened to speakers at two historic churches that were key in the civil rights movement. In only about an hour, I felt like I was a member of that community. Shared commitments will open the door and escort you to your seat. Nope, it is more than that type of community. That feeling was just the first step.

A Beloved Community is a practical blueprint for living a godly life. It begins with a personal transformation. Then, it must extend into a transformation of society. It is a consecrated place where each of us offers up the best of ourselves in the service of all humanity. Dr. Martin Luther King deepened its meaning. The Beloved Community is Afro-Americans – and their allies – fighting for freedom. It is a realistic and achievable personal and social transformation.

In a sentence, a Beloved Community is a society where love and justice prevail, reflecting the kingdom of God on earth, and rooted in the transformative power of the gospel. If you are interested in more details, then take the time to dig out the four points he makes towards the end of his sermon. I am not doing the work for you. Treat yourself to the filet of this fine meal.

Please watch the video and pay close attention as the Holy Spirit comes around.
Learn about Howard Thurman. Contact Dr. Rabaka directly.