Most people who have grown up in America can recall the first time they heard the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. Perhaps it was from a clip of his most famous I Have a Dream Speech. His uniquely powerful rhetorical style carries a musical quality with roots in his background and training as a Baptist pastor in the Black church.
While King was certainly charismatic, it would be an unfair characterization to focus his persona on just that aspect. Listening to him is not hearing mere charisma tuned to the right frequency, but rather tapping into the meditations of someone weathered yet uncrushed—a soul which has emerged with unapologetic and unwavering conviction.
Some see King as a Jesus figure, or at least a 20th-century Moses who would lead his people out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. And certainly, he will be remembered for so much that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its resulting impact. Every movement in the modern era stands on the shoulders of the Civil Rights movement in some way. There is even now a memorial in King’s likeness in Washington DC.
Yet as much as he is revered as a hero or saint, like any other man, he was a sinner in need of a Savior. His extra-marital affairs were no secret to his wife, Coretta, nor were they hidden from the public thanks to the meticulous wiretapping work by the FBI. 1
Some will accentuate the moral failings of King while others will magnify his perceived “less than orthodox” theology. And as much as both of those aspects of his life may be true, he will not primarily be remembered for either of them. His legacy will likely continue to be defined by his counter-cultural emphasis on non-violent protest, love for his neighbor, and resilience that extended grace to those who were far from deserving of it.
In today’s world, nuance in character often complicates the people we wish to believe in. We want heroes who are infallible and unblemished. We don’t want to be bamboozled into admiring someone who turns out to be less than worthy. We’ve adopted an “all or nothing” approach while forgetting that no one but Christ has ever faced this test and has stood reputationally unscathed.
Even with this tension in hand, we have much to reflect upon from the life of Dr. King. He consistently appealed to those who did not share his views rather than exiling them.2 He focused on a vision of the future rooted in scriptural promises. This vision did not paint a future for a classless, raceless society, but instead a society where distinctions could be met with an embrace. In his effort to improve conditions for Black people in America, he put the Imago Dei at the center.
Dr. King referred to much scripture throughout the many speeches he delivered. This makes for an appropriate meditation, especially when read in context, on this MLK Day:
- “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28
- “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11:6
- “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” – Amos 5:4
- “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.” – Micah 4:4
- “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” – Isaiah 40:4
It is true that King’s way of appealing, reasoning, and dialoguing with others will not have the same effect today. While society was somewhat churched and shared common ground during the time of Dr. King, our era is very much post-Christian.
However, I’d venture to say that Dr. King would challenge us to think beyond mere action and first envision the world we’ve been promised as children of the Almighty King. It was a lifetime of meditating upon this vision that empowered him to do what he did, and inspires so many who come after him.
Because taking up the mantle of King is daunting, it’s important to remember our calling as Christians. It is not our call to bring heaven to earth. We will never legislate ourselves into a perfect society. We may never end poverty or eradicate famine. While we may rightfully labor in efforts to alleviate injustice and bring about better outcomes, we ultimately cannot save the world.
But like Dr. King, we are to immerse ourselves in God’s vision, serve our neighbor, and share the good news of Jesus Christ which provides a glimpse into heaven. Only then can God’s children know what home is truly like, and meet the one who has saved us.
On this MLK Day, may we appreciate his legacy and strive to resonate with this sentiment from his last address in 1968:
“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life—longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will…. And so I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”3
- https://www.npr.org/2021/01/18/956741992/documentary-exposes-how-the-fbi-tried-to-destroy-mlk-with-wiretaps-blackmail
- The Letter from Birmingham Jail is a long appeal to White Church Leaders
- From King’s I’ve Been to the Mountaintop speech