Six Reasons Why Christians Still Celebrate MLK

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Who in America doesn’t recognize the name of Martin Luther King, Jr? Some may not understand the breadth of his impact or the depth of his convictions, but they realize he accomplished something big. And because of that, the world is vastly different.

King led the nonviolent Civil Rights Movement that began in 1955, a movement endeavoring to provide constitutional and legal rights for African Americans. He lobbied for the courts and culture to confer dignity upon the black race, a dignity naturally conferred to them by God, our creator.

As Christians, we continue to honor this man more than 60 years later. While we don’t exalt him to a similar level as God, we acknowledge that his Christ-filled heart fueled his courage and voice for all black Americans.

Here are six reasons Christians continue to recognize Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. He was imperfect.

MLK was not a perfect man, in spite of his love for God. Only one perfect man lived and that was Jesus Christ. King like the “greats” in the Bible including Abraham, Noah, Moses, King David and more, while doing great things for God, still needed saving grace from God. He needed that grace not just for salvation, but to shape and inform his life. King’s imperfection reminds all of us sinners that we need a Savior.

2. He loved God.

Though King was imperfect, King still loved God. All Christians say they love God. But all Christians continue to falter, stumble and fall in light of that love for their Heavenly Father. Everything King did to radically communicate the value of all men, particularly blacks, was born out of his love for God. As one pastor writes, “He was a rod in the hand of an all-ruling God.”

3. He pursued nonviolence.

This observation isn’t a theological statement, although nonviolence was informed by King’s theology. The observation is a fact; King used nonviolence to combat violent acts of the extreme level toward his black brothers and sisters. This effort toward nonviolence in the face of evil is arguably the greatest act toward social change in the history of mankind, except for Jesus Christ. Why did he choose nonviolence? He overcame hate with love.

4. He gave a voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless.

King was a courageous man. He was a visionary. He was articulate and compelling. He stared straight in the eyes of men who turned the cogs of America’s cultural wheels and told them they were wrong. In so doing, other people—blacks and white—found similar courage to speak out, stand in power and defeat the evil around them.

5. He changed the world.

I’m reminded of Esther in the Bible. She, a Jewish, God-fearing woman, married a king who didn’t know God. In the end, she saved her people from extermination. Her cousin, Mordecai, challenged Esther when she feared going to the king: Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14, NIV). King’s life was a “such a time as this” life. His time had come. He was ready, and he stepped into his God-ordained moment to lead the Civil Rights Movement.

6. His death led others to live.

While preaching a message later termed, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968. King was not afraid to die because he knew why he was living. And in so doing, he helped others understand what to live for and how. In a real sense, his life and death mimic those of his dear Savior. Dare that we would do the same? That we would live for Christ even if doing so costs us our lives? Stand for truth without fear? Love others without restraint?

These reasons and many others explain why Christians continue to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. His life displayed the grace and glorious work of Jesus.

May ours display the same.

Warner Press honors the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., with a number of church-related products.

Tammy Tilley

Tammy Tilley has compiled and edited numerous books, has written for dozens of print and digital publications, and even co-founded a lifestyle magazine for the town where she once lived. Currently she lives in Anderson, Indiana where she is an adjunct writing instructor at Anderson University and an editor and writer for Warner Press.

January 21, 2019 | View: 1565