Dr. Martin Luther King, the apostle of non-violence in the civil rights movement, has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee.

Place of issued an all-points bulletin for a well-dressed young white man seen running from the scene.

Nearly 50 years ago today, that's Walter Conkite on air April 4, 1968.

Standing on the balcony of a second floor hotel room tonight, when, according to a companion, a shot was fired from across the street.

And before we jump into today's episode, it reminds me that the MLK 50 conference is coming up in a few days in Memphis.

And Pastor John, I know you're looking forward to it.

And on the second evening of the conference on Wednesday, April 4, which marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pastor John, you'll be delivering the final plenary session at 8.30pm local time in a message titled Glory of God and Racial Unity.

Really looking forward to that. That's Wednesday, April 4, 8.30pm in Memphis.

Today's question is related. What does John Calvin have to do with racial reconciliation?

In fact, does reform theology obstruct racial unity or does it offer a way forward?

The question today comes in from a listener named Drew, hello, Pastor John, I live in the South, and it tends to church that holds to reform theology, and does great work for the gospel of Christ in our city.

My question, do you think it's possible for people in the reformed world to use theology as an excuse to distance themselves from churches that are predominantly African-American in order to avoid any deep issues or discussions of race that come on?

How do we fight this and gladly partner with our brothers and sisters in Christ and address the real issues of racial history that exist, especially with churches that are less obviously reformed in their theology?

The first thing I would say is that the sinful human heart, that is my heart, your heart, all hearts is capable of taking every theology under the sun and every doctrine in the Bible.

And using it to advance our own personal preferences, even sinful preferences.

As far as the content of reform theology goes, I think there is as much or more truth for the overcoming of racial and ethnic animacies in this theology as there is in any other theology.

I would even say there is more, but accurately articulated biblical doctrine by itself is not a sufficient damn against the rushing currents of sin that flow in the human heart.

We are not saved merely by accurately rehearsing and believing right doctrine. We are saved by a transforming miracle of a Holy Spirit called New Birth.

And that New Birth brings into being not merely new ideas about God and salvation and humanity in heaven and hell, but gloriously new affections and desires and longings and attitudes and dispositions.

And this radical, miraculous, spirit-wrought transformation with its utterly essential manifestation in ongoing growth in grace and knowledge and love and wisdom, that New Birth is all important in dealing with matters of racial tension.

So no, I don't believe the content of reform theology is a stumbling block to the pursuit of racial harmony and racial diversity.

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