Can You Turn the Other Cheek?
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball, breaking the color barrier that had stood for over 60 years. What gave him the strength to endure was his faith.
Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers executive who signed Robinson, was a devout Methodist. When he recruited Jackie, he asked a crucial question: "Can you turn the other cheek?"
Rickey knew the abuse Robinson would face - the death threats, the slurs, the intentional spikings. He needed someone who could absorb hatred without retaliating.
"I'm looking for a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back," Rickey said. He showed Robinson Scripture passages about turning the other cheek.
Three Years of Non-Retaliation
Robinson, a lifelong Christian, understood. He committed to three years of non-retaliation. It nearly broke him. Pitchers threw at his head. Players spit on him. Hotels refused him. Teammates initially demanded trades rather than play with him.
But Robinson persevered. He won Rookie of the Year. He became an MVP. He led the Dodgers to six pennants. And he changed America.
One Man Changed a Nation
"Life is not a spectator sport," Robinson later wrote. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
His faith-driven courage opened doors not just in baseball, but across all of American society. One man's obedience to turn the other cheek changed a nation.
