‘Pride (In The Name Of Love),’ the lead single from U2‘s fourth album, ‘The Unforgettable Fire,’ was a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. The civil rights pioneer was assassinated on April 4, 1968. ‘Pride’ was almost universally applauded for its sentiment, made it to No. 3 in the U.K., and was the band’s first Top 40 hit in the States. However, one critic of the song was none other than the song’s lyricist, Bono. In the authorized band bio ‘U2 By U2,’ Bono said “I looked at how glorious that song was and thought: ‘What the f— is that all about?’ It’s just a load of vowel sounds ganging up on a great man. It is emotionally very articulate — if you didn’t speak English.” Though initially written as a song condemning president Ronald Reagan and his pride in the military strength of the U.S., a visit to an MLK exhibit at the Chicago Peace Museum in 1983 along with a couple of books that Bono had been reading at the time, one on Martin Luther King and Malcom X, altered the lyrics. He contrasts the approaches of the peaceful King with the more militant X: “One man come in the name of love / One man come and go / One man come, he to justify / One man to overthrow”
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed up on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
Nobody like you
Somebody wants to
Somebody to you
Early morning, April four
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
Nobody like you
Somebody sees you
Nobody, you're all
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
In the name of love
What more in the name of love
The basic theme of martyrs, peace and love along with references to King (and Jesus Christ), paint pride as a universal concept of understanding, awareness and respect for humanity as opposed to using the word in an arrogant or boastful way. The “‘Free at last,’ / They took your life / They could not take your pride” line is a reference to King’s legendary 1963 ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, but the phrase is actually older, dating back to an an old spiritual song. A factual error in the lyrics is the time of day King was killed. The lyric states “early morning, April 4,” but he was actually killed that evening. Bono later became aware of the mistake and has, from time to time, changed the lyric in live performances of the song to note the correct time of day. The Bible reading today is a reading for Martyrs who lay down their lives in the cause of freedom. In Acts 1:1-10 we have the story of the resurrected Jesus giving instructions to his disciples about their mission in the world.
The book of Acts begins with a post-resurrection interaction between Jesus and his disciples. Jesus teaches his disciples about “the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). They respond with a question about establishing the kingdom of God, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus’ response relates closely to our lives as witnesses.
First, Jesus closes down the disciples’ curiosity about the timeline of God’s plan. “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). We are to live in anticipation of the fullness of God’s kingdom, but not in a way that wonders about the precise timing of God’s return in Christ. Second, Jesus does not deny that God will establish a kingdom that is tangible, that is “to restore the kingdom to Israel,” as the disciples’ question put it.
Jesus’ disciples were all well versed in the Scriptures of Israel. They knew that the kingdom described by the prophets was no other-world reality, but that it was a real kingdom of peace and justice in a world renewed by the power of God. Jesus does not deny the reality of this coming kingdom, but he expands the boundaries of the disciples’ expectation by including all creation in the hoped-for kingdom. This is not merely a new kingdom for the territory of Israel, but “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The fulfillment of this kingdom is not yet (“at this time”) but it is here, in this world.
The kingdom of heaven comes to earth, and God dwells here, in the redeemed world. Why is it not here yet? Jesus’ teaching suggests that part of the answer is because his disciples have work (Action) to do. Human work (Action) was needed to complete God’s creation even in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:5), but our work (Action) was crippled by the Fall. In Acts 1 and 2, God sends his spirit to empower human work. (Action) “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8a). Jesus is giving his followers a vocation—witnessing, in the sense of bearing witness to the Spirit’s power in every sphere of human activity—that is essential to the coming of the kingdom. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit fills the gap between the essential role that God assigned to human work (Action) and our ability to fulfill that role. For the first time since the Fall, our work (Action) has the power to contribute to fulfilling God’s kingdom at the return of Christ. Scholars, by and large, view Acts 1:8 as the programmatic statement for this second of Luke’s two volumes. Bearing witness also has thoughts of christian martyrdom as the word witness in Acts 1:8 could be also translated as Martyr.
Indeed, the entire book of Acts can be taken as a (sometimes faltering) expression of the Christian Action to bear witness to the risen Jesus. But bearing witness means far more than evangelising. We must not fall into the mistake of thinking Jesus is talking only about the action of the individual sharing the gospel with an unbeliever through his or her words. Instead, bearing witness to the coming kingdom primarily means living now according to the principles and practices of God’s kingdom. The most effective form of Christian witness is often—even primarily—the shared life of the community on a day to day basis.
The shared Christian action of witness is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit transforms individuals and communities in ways that result in the sharing of the fruits of human labour—especially power, resources, and influence—with the community and the surrounding culture. The community witnesses when the strong aid the weak. The community witnesses when its members use their resources to benefit the wider culture. The community witnesses when those around see that working in the ways of justice, goodness, and beauty leads to fuller life. The locations mentioned by Jesus reveal that the witness of the disciples puts them in social danger. Jesus’ group of Jewish disciples is commanded to speak for a man who has only recently been crucified as an enemy of the Roman Empire and a blasphemer of the God of Israel. They are called to take up this action in the city in which their teacher was killed, among the Samaritans—historic, ethnic enemies of the Jews—and in the broad reaches of the Roman Empire.
In summary, Acts begins with an orienting action that calls Jesus’ followers to the primary task of witness. Witness means, above all, living in accordance with the ways of God’s coming kingdom and laying down your lives for those around you. The action of Jesus. As we will see momentarily, the most important element of this life is that we work primarily for the good of others. This action of witness is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit and is to be exercised with little regard for social barriers. This action does not denigrate the value of human work or the working lives of Jesus’ disciples in favour of proclaiming Jesus by word alone. Quite the opposite, Acts will argue forcefully that all human interaction can be a fundamental expression of God’s kingdom. Acts shows what it is like to Act Justly, Love Mercy and to Walk Humbly with your God.
We have an opportunity to act for the benefit and blessing of others. When we see injustice....ACT. When we see a lack of Mercy and Grace.....ACT. When we encounter the poor ......ACT. When we have opportunity to do good.....ACT. This is what was behind the lives of MLK and many others from the civil rights movement. As we occupt this space there if no place for false pride... except for PRIDE in the name of Love.
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