Have you ever been standing in line for a long time, when suddenly one or several people jump in line in front of you? How does it make you feel? The act of jumping in line – also known as butting, barging or skipping in line – is the act of entering a queue or line at any position other than at the end. Using this analogy, we should ask ourselves: As Christians, are we similarly putting something ahead of God in our lives? What other things are butting in the line before God?
A principal reason why the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was so successful both morally and practically was that it was led largely by people with a strong religious sensibility. The most notable of these leaders was, of course, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To appreciate the subtle play between King’s religious commitment and his practical work, I would draw your attention to two texts – namely, his “Letter from the Birmingham City Jail” and his “I Have a Dream” speech, both from 1963.