ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 16, 2021
On this day in 1984, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I had only been involved in the Anti-Apartheid movement for about six months at that point, but I knew the name Desmond Tutu. Six months after he received the award, I protested outside the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C. Less than ten years later, I met Desmond Tutu in St. Louis, Missouri, when he was in town to preach at our denomination’s General Assembly. He remains one of my faith heroes, and among my favorite quotes: “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” It is one thing for some ivory tower philosopher to make such a claim, but for Desmond Tutu to say such a thing, amidst so much oppression and suffering, is powerful and prophetic. For him to look upon those who had committed atrocities against black citizens of South Africa, and still claim a common humanity is breath-taking or crazy or maybe both. Yet such a claim is rooted in some of the first words of scripture where we read about humanity being created in the image of God; male and female, God created them. Oh sure, people throughout Christian history have demonized and dehumanized certain groups in an attempt to exclude them from having the divine image. In this case, I’m pretty certain the Holy One of the Universe has a different opinion, and Jesus is God’s opinion enfleshed.
Keep me strong and focused, O Gracious God, for there are too many attempting to confuse and undermine the message of your love. May your Spirit fill me and then guide me to live a life that celebrates your image etched upon every living thing. Amen.
