GOSPEL
Δημοσιεύτηκε: Παρ 07 Ιουν 2013, 01:11
...This story reminds me of the times that Dr. King was arrested as part of some campaign, and then
refused to pay bail. There were at least a few times that the bail was mysteriously paid, it turns out by
the authorities themselves. They had found out that Dr. King in jail was more trouble than Dr. King out
of jail. When we hold on to the truth, miracles can happen. Liberation can happen. Now just imagine
this song being sung in a jail. Join me on the chorus...
Paul and Silas was bound in jail
Had nobody for to go their bail
Keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Keep your hand on that plow, hold on
The very moment that all seemed lost,
the dungeon shook and the chains fell off....
Paul and Silas began to shout,
Jail door opened and they walked out....
Jim Zwerg, a white freedom rider, talked about music as the way those who were arrested
communicated to each other in jail. He tells of one experience, of being pulled from a bus, and thrown
into a cell with a group of drunken white southerners. He was very afraid, but decided to sing this song
for his cellmates. A group of ten of them warmed up to singing along with him. When he heard other
groups singing in the jail, he knew that his comrades were okay.
Let’s all sing together the next few verses of the song:
The only chain that we can stand
is the chain of hand in hand
Keep your hand on that plow, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Keep your hand on that plow, hold on
The only thing that we did wrong,
was staying in the wilderness a day too long
The only thing that we did right
Was the day we began to fight
Got my hand on the freedom plow
Wouldn’t give nothing for my journey now
Dr. King said, “Once I gave everything there was no turning back.” African Americans and their allies
held on to the truth. They held on to the plow of freedom and dignity. They refused to submit to the
untruth of an inferior status in American society. And the whole nation changed. Legal segregation
was dismantled. Restaurants, schools, buses, trains, hotels, theaters, swimming pools, neighborhoods.
It was a difficult and costly battle. Many people lost their lives. But Dr. King held on to a vision of
hope, not condemnation. Just like Paul and Silas didn’t condemn the jailor, but won him over to their
side, so Dr. King held on to the vision of winning all people to the goal of human dignity, justice and
community...
Rev. Myke Johnson
