7 Ways to Be Sure You Are a Martin Luther King Jr. Kind of Christian

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-raushenbush/martin-luther-king-faith_b_4623051.html

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Senior Religion Editor, The Huffington Post

Posted: 01/19/2014 10:56 am


Donald Uhrbrock via Getty Images

To understand the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. one should first look to his Christian faith, which gave him the language, spiritual strength and community to fuel and sustain his singular efforts for justice, peace and freedom.

Faith was at the center of his life.

However, as we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. it is worthwhile to consider the kind of faith King embodied. Because there isn't just one kind of Christian; and not all faith leaders lead towards freedom.

As King himself wrote:

"On sweltering summer days and crisp autumn mornings I have looked at the South's beautiful churches with their lofty spires pointing heavenward. Over and over I have found myself asking: 'What kind of people worship here? Who is their God?'"

more at link

[freshwest]

1. Beautiful man, and will go to link to see the whole piece. Thanks for posting. n/t

[cbayer]

2. I take today to remember what an important role he played

for so many and for me personally.

My parents marched with him and took us to hear him speak.

The moment I heard of his death is seared into me like a brand. I was a child, but I felt like I had personally been shot.

It hurts even now.

Nice to see you again! You sure do get around, lol.

[trotsky]

3. He was a human being first and foremost.

He had his flaws, and he had his strengths. Just like we all do.

He likely would have been just as noble a person had he been a Muslim, a Hindu, or even a *gasp* atheist! His religion didn't make him great, his sense of humanity did.

Because if Christianity deserves credit for MLK, then it deserves blame for those who opposed him.

[locks]

4. We do not often celebrate Dr. King's other great battles

After the long, bitter and often violent attacks Dr. King had to endure as he toiled to shift the nation he loved toward civil rights for all, he did not rest on his laurels as he so deserved. Instead he took on what his faith demanded of him: the abolition of war and poverty which was killing the bodies and souls of our people. And he addressed both with the same grounded Christian faith.

It's hard to remember what courage and faith it took to march against our leaders who kept up the terrible war in Vietnam. And to lead the Poor People's campaign to bring decent jobs and dignity to the huge numbers of our people living below the poverty line.

Even harder to celebrate when we know that 50 years later we are still fighting long, sad wars and 50 million of our citizens live in poverty while the wealth goes to a few. Will we ever ask what would Dr. King want us to do?