Jesse Jackson's Funeral Was Today...

Jesse Jackson’s funeral was today in Chicago.

In his younger days, he was a powerful force for civil rights. He was quite amazing. And he was an advocate for getting people off additions and the streets, to become productive citizens. He was amazing. He would have young people chant, “Up with hope, Down with dope!” I so respected him. In fact, he was to be the speaker at my Ph.D. graduation (historical theology) at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The journey to get my doctorate was a long, long quest (as anyone knows who goes to a bona fide, reputable doctoral-granting institution).

Added to that was the spectacular setting for Drew’s graduation. The graduates would march across the majestic campus, filled with enormous oak trees, and be seated on folding chairs in the beautiful lawn facing Mead Hall, an antebellum appearing structure whose massive back porch became the stage for the event. I was so excited that Jesse Jackson was to be the speaker for this 1979 event. I had been in school, full time, non-stop, from age 6 to age 32. (I earned 3 masters degrees before the doctorate. Why three, you ask? Because the Bible says, “No man can have two masters,” so I got a third! Now you know! LOL). 
 
The day came. I was so excited. However…however…it began to rain. In fact, it poured. The event was moved indoors. At that time, Drew University did not have the nice gym is does today. It was an old, extremely cramped building.

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What is more? Jesse Jackson became ill. So the university officials asked a neighbor to the Madison, New Jersey campus to speak. His name? Alan Alda. Yes – THAT Alan Alda, of M*A*S*H. (Some of you are too young to remember MAS*H, an immensely popular TV series.) I was so disappointed. I wanted to hear Jesse. We got Alan.
 
The undergraduates decided to make it a party, and brought liquor bottles hidden under their graduation gowns. I don’t need to tell you how undignified the event became. The gym was jammed, so severely overcrowded. And smelly. With everyone having come in drenched from the rain, and given the high humidity, the aroma resembled that of a high school boys locker room. I was so disappointed. (At least, I received my degree!)
 
But there was something else that disappointed me after that. Jesse Jackson disappointed me. Lots. You see, he was a preacher. But like many preachers who lose their biblio-centricity, he departed from the Word of God.

Jackson was the first person ever to support LGBT in a national political convention. While he was speaking at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, he was the first ever to work in the words “lesbian” and “gay” in a speech. And in 1993, he would be a strong advocate at the “March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.” As a pastor, tragically, he stopped teaching on the sacredness of marriage (Please view: The Sacredness of Marriage) in order to support that for which God destroyed Sodom.
 
How tragic it is when a person starts off life so powerfully, but fails to finish strong. 
 
Prayer: “Lord, Help me to finish strong…true to your Word. Amen.”