“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”  Esther 4:14  

As we honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we cannot help but consider how his theology of radical love would manifest in our current moment. In his pivotal speech, Beyond Vietnam, King calls upon us to resist despair, reaffirm our theological roots, and recommit ourselves to action. King writes:  

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”  

We are called today to confront our fierce urgency of now. 

Our political landscape is shifting, creating greater space and opportunity for what Rev. King considered the giant triplets of evil—racism, materialism, and militarism. Yet, as loving communities of faith, our mission and work remain unchanged. We will seek the way of love, and work to build a ‘Just World for All’ each day. We are already a part of and will continue to create our Beloved Community-- one in which we practice our Christian values of serving the poor and embodying radical welcome. We will offer compassion to every individual and advocate for the self determination of all. We will stand up for people of all genders, sexualities, and abilities, citizenships, and races. We will refuse to sacrifice our planet for the sake of enriching ourselves.  

We will fight for the dignity and wellbeing of our siblings abroad and oppose endless funding for endless war. We will continue to be courageous, creative, and collaborative in living out the hope of the gospel in the public square.   

Our faith calls us to "Be the Church” in this moment, harkening the example of Esther and call of the biblical prophets who call each generation to take a stand “for such a time as this”. As such, our commitment to justice will continue no matter who is in the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court. The work of advocacy, public witness, and nonviolent resistance will all be needed in the months to come.  I will join in this sacred work and spread the word to others in my church and/or network.