FOUR LITTLE “BLACK” GIRLS @ 15 September 1963

On 15 September, 1963 in a racially motivated bombing, FOUR LITTLE “BLACK” GIRLS were killed, while they were attending the Church service, at the 16th Street Baptist Church, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. What a tragedy it is to see, FOUR PRECIOUS and PRICELESS LITTLE “BLACK” GIRLS die, because someone doesn’t like, the colour of their skin, and considered them as inferior, to their colour, which is a superior race. Those FOUR LITTLE “BLACK” GIRLS were, 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Cynthia Wesley. Addie’s sister Sarah survived, but lost her right eye.

According to official records, “The bombing was committed by a white supremacist terrorist group. Four members of a local Ku Klux Klan (KKK) chapter planted 19 sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device beneath the steps located on the east side of the Church.” – From properly documented Wikipedia article.

The shocking facts of how it was handled by the authorities, is a revelation of the malady, and its power and hold over everything. These are official records.
– No federal charges were filed in the 1960’s, even though the incident happened in 1963.
– Suspects, four in total, were officially identified only in 1965.
– The first conviction happened only in 1977.
– Then the case went dead; which was reopened in the mid 1990’s.
– Two more accused were convicted in 2000, almost 40 years latter.
– While one died in 1994.
What a pity, that it took such a long long time to bring the criminals to justice. Sounds like a perfectly broken system, where the evil gets rewarded, and the oppressed are left to languish on their own.

According to the BBC article, “Who were the KKK and what did they do?” the key failings of government officials with regards to KKK activity are listed as follows.
– Police: ignored serious crimes; could not protect victims; took part in killings.
– Courts: were friends of the Klan.
– Politicians: difficult to change their attitudes; sacred of losing votes.

The crime that was committed, is a reflection of who those killers were, the people behind them, and their ideology. They were, evil personified, in the purest form possible. Sadly, the Klu Klux Klan, a white supremacist group,  claimed themselves to be “Bible believing” Christians. What a tragedy isn’t it, of being the follower of the LORD Jesus Christ, and yet, with such pure hate?

Ironically, the sermon for that day, was to be, “The Love That Forgives” based on Matthew 5:43-44.
– “43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:43-48

Love that takes birth in our dead hearts, at the time of our conversion, ought to be watered regularly, and nurtured with utmost care, for it to grow and bear fruit. The only way for us to bear fruit is by faithful, intentional, immediate and full obedience, to all what God is asking of us. Anything less would break the protective shield, and there would appear chinks in our armour.

We are called by God, to demonstrably display LOVE, MERCY and FORGIVENESS in the face of blatant injustice.
– “35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” – Luke 6:35-36

The parallel being drawn by Jesus, in the references from Matthew and Luke is that, we are to choose our response, in the footsteps of God. The reason and basis for the parallel is that, since we are the children of God, and therefore, God is our Father. Hence it is but natural to walk in the Father’s path – “Like Father, like son.”

What Jesus is asking from Christians is very tough. May be, we should say, impossible, on our own. God is looking at our attitude, towards those who have hurt us, and have been unjust towards us. He is looking at our innermost desires, which is the truest reflection of who we are. When we think, speak and behave like our FATHER, then we see that, the seed of the gospel is properly planted, and that, it is growing well. The response one considers to follow through, is an indication of our heart, and the transformation that has happened in us.
– Justice belongs to God. Therefore we are called to forgive. He will test every word that we utter – Matthew 12:36.
– Vengeance belongs to God – Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 94:1; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30.
Therefore, we are called to leave our hurt and the loss, at Gods feet, walk away, with a clean and uncontaminated heart. For bitterness will lead to anger; anger in its fullness will become hate; hate contaminates us, with hell’s poison. Within no time, we become active agents of the devil, in spreading hatred, and every other evil thing, along with it.

World is fast drowning itself in evil hate. It finds reasons and logic to hate others whom it doesn’t like, or doesn’t agree with. Many, who claim to be Christians, are filled to the brim with hate for others. They seem to be perfectly comfortable with this apparent contradiction. They have no qualms, nor do they feel guilty. They are, if anything, the children of the evil one, than the children of the Most High God. What a pity! What a tragedy! They are so totally blind with such raging hate, yet be the children of the Living God? 

What we think, speak and do, are a reflection of our character, and our allegiances. Our LORD had already warned us, “A good tree produces good fruit; and a bad tree produces bad fruit.” – Matthew 7:15-23. May the LORD help us to see through this deception, and help us to faithfully walk with Him, in the LIGHT, as do every child, who belongs to the LIGHT. Even so, the LORD help us.