Philip Yancey on Obama and the dream of Martin Luther King:
In no way do I discount the important policy differences between Obama and the majority of evangelicals. But at the least, can we use this moment for reflection and, yes, repentance for our share in the sin of racism that has marked this nation since its founding? It took Southern Baptists 150 years to apologize for their support of slavery; not until three months ago did Bob Jones University admit its error in barring black students before 1971. The school’s words of apology—”We failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves”—apply to many of us, for many evangelicals vigorously opposed the civil rights movement. Can we now respond to a leader’s call for racial healing and reconciliation?