In sermon, central Arkansas judge says he opposes events commemorating Central High integration

Baptist minister and Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen urged churchgoers not to pay “lip service” to Little Rock School District-sponsored events that will commemorate the 60th anniversary of Central High School’s integration.

Griffen posted a sermon he delivered to the New Millennium Church on his personal blog early Monday. In the post titled "Justice is a verb!," Griffen cited biblical scripture about King Nebuchadnezzar, who constructed icons made of gold and told people to worship them. But three young Hebrews — Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — refused and were fed to a fire, Griffen wrote.

By doing so, the judge said, the youths “show us what it means to be faithful to God for people challenged by others who believe in the supremacy of their notions of Empire.”

Griffen likened the Bible passage to the 1957 Little Rock Central High School crisis, when nine black students “bravely became pioneers for desegregation in public education” and defied Gov. Orval Faubus, who deployed the Arkansas National Guard to support segregationists.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/sep/18/judge-says-dont-pay-lip-service-events-commemorati/