Martin Luther King, Jr.

I wrote about my experiences last week with MLK, Jr. Day in Cincinnati however I want to offer up some of the beautiful insights about this wonderful man.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an inspirational man who has become known worldwide for his peaceful activism, and is widely remembered for his leadership in the civil rights movement to secure equal rights for  african americans in the united states.  However Dr. King also spoke passionately about the evils of poverty and war (Vietnam).  He wrote 5 books and lead multiple marches, rallies, the bus boycott, was the pastor of a large southern baptist church, and the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize for peace @ 35.  Dr. King raised his voice against injustices happening in the world and our country for YEARS, but he is mostly remembered for one (be it excellent speech).  Here are some other brilliant things he said.

The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.
          Still true today.  
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
          "The chain reaction of evil... must be broken"
Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
            With love.  
Dr. King wasn't afraid to speak out about issues he saw as oppressing or injustice.  He wasn't afraid to raise awareness and actively do something about it.  His 3 big issues, equal rights for all American citizens, war, and poverty.  Dr. King wasn't afraid to say that to tip the balances back from the injustice and oppression that some will have to give for others to get what they deserve.  We still haven't solved these issues today because we still aren't willing to give.  I look forward to reading more of what Dr. King had to say.  


God Bless!
your sister in Christ~Erin

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tuesdays is a day to note a talented person out there.  Today I chose Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because while reading Matthew 15 - the parable of what pollutes your life I was reminded of a letter written by Dr. King that was read at a celebration for him yesterday (Mr. Luther King Day)

Matthew quotes Jesus to say that it's not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but that which you "vomit" - is the text used in the message =).  Saying, it's not about what you hear and experience that can hurt you, but the things that you say come from the heart and are things you truly understand and believe.  These are the things that connect to you the greatest.

I was thrilled reading this because I often worry about the influences of things that I have been around or study.  I have heard often times to be careful of your company and the people you spend your time with as they rub off on you.  Yet I believe strongly in tolerance and getting to know others- especially those different from you.

(forgive me I will quote more directly soon...)
The letters that spoke to me were exchanged between a Jewish doctor and Dr. King asking his opinion of a statement in the Southern Baptist Conference pamphlet.  It had a statement referring to the 5 million plus Jews of our nation as "lost souls" because they haven't experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Dr. King replied that he did not agree with the statement.  Furthermore he hopes for a day when people can understand that "God has more in his fold" than just their group - i.e. Christians.

Spoke to my heart.

God Bless you and yours,
your sister in Christ~Erin