From Pastor George Hart:
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth visited Christ Community Church on Sunday and then we had him over to our home afterwards for a reception. Really a wonderful and inspiring occasion as he recounted a number of stories (testimonies) of how God spared him through bombings, beatings, jailings (38 times), etc. I think I was most impressed with the depth of his faith and Christ centeredness. You can see that his passion for justice and civil rights flows out of and is an extension of his relationship with Christ. Really a humble man that God has used in a powerful way, and he continually gives any glory to God. He was only able to do what he did because he knew it was what God called him to do and God was with him whether he survived any particular event or had died. As he said, when “Mr. God” calls you, you go.
I saw in him and heard in his message a “spirit” which is absent from the Civil Rights Movement today. He was very clear, that in his mind, the movement is different today. I believe what has been lost is a humility and total dependence upon Christ. Civil rights leaders today have politics, the law, media, etc. on their side to open doors and there may be less of a “need” for Christ to open doors. All they had back then was Christ and his full assurance that all men had been created to be free.
I realized this Sunday, in a profound way, that God has called certain people, and all of us in one way or the other, to lay down our lives for others. Just as Jesus laid down his life for us that we may be reconciled to God, God calls men and women to lay down their lives for the reconciliation of man to man. Someone “had” to be bruised, broken and bled for healing and reconciliation to come. Rev. Shuttlesworth jokingly said that God gave him a hard head to endure the beatings. I think that is the “spirit” that is missing today. Really it is the Spirit of Christ.
Really great to see how the young people were just drawn to him and his message. Several wanted to get their pictures taken with him. Quite a celebrity with the youth, but I think they were drawn to his grace and genuineness.
He didn’t leave our home until after 4:30pm. Truly a “red letter” day.
George Hart
Christ Community Church
Cincinnati, OH
Office Phone: 513-231-6104